House Republicans Pull AHCA Bill Before Vote

After 7 years of vows to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), Republicans in the US House of Representatives pulled the American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA) bill from the House floor March 24 after it became apparent they did not have enough votes to pass the measure.

The dramatic move followed an ultimatum issued by President Donald Trump the evening before, telling lawmakers to take it or leave it during a vote the next day, that he was finished negotiating.

Although Democrats were united in opposition, saying the bill would deny too many Americans health insurance coverage, Republicans were divided in their views. Freedom Caucus conservatives voiced concern the bill left too much of the ACA intact. In a last-minute attempt to gain conservative support, House Republicans amended the bill to repeal an ACA requirement that insurers cover “essential health benefits,” including mental health services, maternity care, and prescription drug coverage.

The move was too much for some moderate Republicans, who subsequently dropped their support amid fears of voter backlash.

Last-minute revisions aside, the AHCA would have removed many ACA-imposed taxes, taken away the financial penalty imposed on people without health insurance, and swapped income-based subsidies for less generous tax credits based on age. Other AHCA measures would have ended the ACA Medicaid state-federal expansion program, cut federal funding of Medicaid, and allowed states to require able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work. 

In the days and hours before the planned vote, House Speaker Paul Ryan scrambled to muster support for the bill. However, when defeat was apparent and with President Trump’s go-ahead, he removed the bill on March 24.

“We came up short,” Ryan remarked to reporters. “We are going to be living with Obamacare for the foreseeable future.”

President Trump expressed disappointment and some surprise at Freedom Caucus opposition. 

The next morning, he tweeted, “Obamacare will explode and we will all get together and piece together a great health care plan for THE PEOPLE. Do not worry!” —Jolynn Tumolo