Senate Republicans Release Health Care Bill, Early Takeaways On The New Bill

By  //  June 22, 2017

Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, final vote expected next week

ABOVE VIDEO: Former Trump deputy campaign manager has confidence that bill will be met with approval

WASHINGTON DC – Senate Republicans on Thursday unveiled a draft version of their healthcare reform bill that cuts Medicaid, ends penalties for people not buying insurance and reshapes subsidies to low-income users.

The bill, unveiled by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, could go to a vote as early as next week. Senate Republicans made the proposal public in a bid to stem criticism that they have been slow to respond to a House version of an ObamaCare overhaul.

“More Americans are going to get hurt if we do nothing,” McConnell said from the Senate floor.

The 142-page draft of the bill, which also prohibits states from opting out of key protections for patients with preexisting conditions, eliminates much of former President Obama’s signature health care legislation.

KEY EARLY TAKEAWAYS

• Would immediately prohibit new states from receiving an enhanced federal share for expanding Medicaid and, for states that have already adopted Medicaid expansion, would phase out the federal share by 2020.

• Would target abortion coverage by prohibiting the use of tax credits to buy insurance plans that cover the procedure, and it would ban funds from going to Planned Parenthood.

– “The qualified health plan’ does not include any health plan that includes coverage for abortions (other than any abortion necessary to save the life of the mother or any abortion with respect to a pregnancy that is the result of an act of rape or incest.)”

• Bill retains ACA’s protections for patients with pre-existing conditions

• Require insurers to let parents maintain coverage for their children until age 26.

• Keep ObamaCare tax credits for patients to buy insurance, with targeting to seniors and low-income people, for two years

• Republican leaders need the support of at least 50 of the chamber’s 52 Republicans to ensure passage after Democrats vow to oppose the bill. If republican leaders get 50 votes, Vice President Mike Pence would enact his vote, giving the bill the majority at 51.

• Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants Republican debate and will vote on the bill next week

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE

CLICK HERE READ THE BILL

STAY TUNED TO SPACE COAST DAILY FOR UPDATES

Fox News contributed to this report

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS