House GOP warms to ACA fixes

Key House Republicans are warming to a proposal aimed at bringing down ACA premiums, raising the chances of legislative action this year to stabilize the health-care law (Source: “House GOP warming to ObamaCare fix,” The Hill, Feb. 1, 2017).

House GOP aides and lobbyists say that top House Republicans are interested in funding reinsurance. The money could be included in a coming bipartisan government funding deal or in another legislative vehicle.

Any action from Republicans to stabilize the ACA would be a major departure from the party’s long crusade against the law, but after having failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act last year, the discussion is shifting. Action on the reinsurance payments is far from certain, however; conservative opposition to what some view as a bailout of ACA insurers could stop the proposal in its tracks. But there is growing momentum for the idea, and Republicans said the proposal would likely be discussed more at the GOP retreat this week in West Virginia.