House Passes Last-Minute GOP Healthcare Bill After Moderates Revolt
—
Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a healthcare reform bill Wednesday evening targeting rising costs as expiring Obamacare tax credits rally support for change ahead of midterm elections.
ThenewGOP-backedlegislation,titledtheLowerHealthCarePremiumsforAllAmericansAct,doesnotextendtheAffordableCareAct(ACA)enhancedpremiumtaxcreditsexpiringDec.31.Thebill,introducedbyRepublicanIowaRep.MariannetteMiller-Meeks,passedtheHouseinanearparty-line216-211vote.
RepublicanKentuckyRep.ThomasMassiewastheonlyGOPmembertovoteno.NoDemocratssupportedthebill.
Miller-MeekssaidontheHousefloorWednesdaythatthenewlegislationlowershealthcarecostsby“forcingtransparency”andimplementing“commonsensesolutions.”
“Byloweringpremiumsthroughchoiceandcompetition,byexpandingassociationhealthplans,wegivesmallbusinessesandself-employedworkersthebuyingpoweroflargeemployers,cuttingpremiumsbyasmuchas30%,”Miller-Meekssaid.“Beingtransparenttodrugpricing,wetakeonthe
