Reform Insights from BCBSM

Senate releases draft of ACA ‘repeal and replace’ legislation

Today, June 22, the U.S. Senate released its version of the American Health Care Act for a Senate vote. The legislation was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 4.

Here are a few key highlights from the bill:

• Cost share reduction payments would be funded through 2019.
• Significant reinsurance funding is included for individuals with high cost claims, incentives for continuous coverage and an elimination of Affordable Care Act taxes.
• Medicaid funding would continue at current levels until 2021 and then would be phased out over a three-year period.

If the Senate approves the bill, what are the steps in the reconciliation process?

The Senate must vote on its health care bill, and then the House and Senate will have to work out any differences between their respective health care bills. If there are any changes, each chamber must vote again on the bill before it’s sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.

We’ll provide additional details about the bill in the next edition of Reform Insights.

The information in this document is not intended to impart legal advice upon which you may rely. Rather, it is intended as an educational tool only and does not replace a more rigorous review of changes to the law or consultation with your own legal counsel. The federal government will continue to issue guidance on how any changes to national health reform should be interpreted and applied. The impact of these reforms on individual situations may vary.