Obamacare ‘essentially dead’, says Trump after GOP health bill victory
A beaming US President Donald Trump has declared Obamacare "essentially dead" after the House of Representatives narrowly approved his controversial plan to dismantle his predecessor Barack Obama's legacy healthcare programme.
Unfazed by protesters shouting "Shame on you!", Trump and Republicans celebrated after the bill passed the 216-vote threshold, with just one vote to spare - something that had seemed almost impossible for the administration just days ago.
Though the voting largely went as per the party lines, no Democrats backed the bill and 20 Republicans opposed it, an intense series of negotiations preceded the first step to repeal and replace Obama's landmark Affordable Care Act. Republicans passed the American Health Care Act 217 to 213, taking an important first step to fulfil a seven-year promise to replace the 2010 law. Moments later, there were celebrations on the White House lawn, where a reception was held for Republicans in the House of Representatives. Nearly 70 Republican members attended the celebration and lined up on the stairs in a photo formation.
Celebrating his victory, Trump, who have campaigned relentlessly on the pledge to dismantle Obamacare, said he was doing well as president, even though he has been a politician only for a brief time.
"Coming from a different world, and only being a politician for a short period of time, how am I doing? Am I doing - OK, I am president. Hey, I am president, do you believe it, right?" he asked the lawmakers. IndianAmerican and top healthcare official Seema Verma was seen standing in the front row along with top Republican lawmakers at the White House lawn.
Verma, the administrator of the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services, described this as a big day for the US. She is believed to be one of the top officials working to replace Obamacare.
The bill now moves to the Senate, the upper chamber of the US Congress, where it is expected to face difficulties. But with House Speaker Paul Ryan by his side, Trump exuded confidence that the bill would pass through the Senate.
"This is really an incredible healthcare plan. This has brought the Republican party together," Trump said.
"Premiums will be coming down, deductibles will be coming down, but very importantly it's a great plan."
He described Obamacare as a "catastrophe" and called his own "a great plan." Obamacare, he added, was "essentially dead"
"I actually think it will get even better. This is, make no mistake, this is a repeal and a replace of Obamacare, make no mistake about it," Trump said.
Obamacare was signed into law by Obama on March 23, 2010. About 20 million Americans gained healthcare coverage under the healthcare programme, but Republicans viewed it as an overreach of the federal government and said patients had less choice and higher premiums.