American Health Care Act Passes House — What Now?
On May 4, following months of controversial debate, negotiation, and several amendments, House Republicans narrowly passed their bill to repeal and replace Obamacare on a 217-213 party-line vote, with 20 Republican representatives joining all 193 House Democrats in opposing the measure.
Officially titled “The American Health Care Act” (AHCA), the bill now heads to the U.S. Senate where it faces an uncertain future. In the Senate, the Republicans can only afford to lose the support of two Senators to pass the bill and Republican Senators from both the moderate and conservative wings of the party have already publicly opposed key provisions of the House bill. Further complicating matters, any amended bill that does clear the Senate would still have to be reconciled by House and Senate negotiators and passed again by the House.
Mostly focused on insurance coverage provisions, the AHCA has little direct impact on value-based payment and delivery system reform efforts such as the Quality Payment Program.
(See here for more details.)