Trump presses senators on health bill
conditions, along with cuts to Medicaid.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican whose vote will be critical to getting a bill to Mr. Trump’s desk and who voiced similar concerns, said the Senate would not take up the House bill.
“The Senate is starting from scratch. We’re going to draft our bill, and I’m convinced we will take the time to do it right,” she said.
Mick Mulvaney, Mr. Trump’s budget director, also said the version that gets to the president will likely differ from the House measure. Such a scenario would then force the House and Senate to work together to forge a compromise bill that both houses can support.
Ms. Collins also complained that the House rushed a vote before the Congressional Budget Office could complete its costbenefit analysis.
Eager to check off a top campaign promise, Mr. Trump sought Sunday to pressure Senate Republicans on the issue.
“Republican senators will not let the American people down!” Mr. Trump that help consumers tweeted from his private afford health insurance. golf course in central New Major medical and other Jersey, where he has stayed groups, including the since late Thursday. American Medical Association, “ObamaCare premiums opposed the House bill. and deductibles are way up Democrats are also refusing — it was a lie and it is dead!” to participate in any effort
Mr. Trump has said the to dismantle Obama’s current system is failing as law, while some Republican insurers pull out of markets, senators — Rob Portman of forcing costs and deductibles Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito to rise. of West Virginia, Cory
The White House on Gardner of Colorado and Sunday scoffed at Democratic Lisa Murkowski of Alaska claims that voters — object to cutting Medicaid, will punish the GOP in the the federal-state health 2018 elections for upending care program for the poor former President Barack and disabled. Obama’s law. The ACA expanded Medicaid “I think that the Relican with extra payments Party will be rewarded,” to 31 states to cover more said Reince Priebus, people. The House bill halts Mr. Trump’s chief of the expansion, in addition staff. House Democratic to cutting federal spending leader Nancy Pelosi of California on the program, which Mr. has threatened that Trump’s health chief argued GOP lawmakers will “glow is flawed and dictates in the dark” over their vote. too much from Washington.
The House bill would end the health care law’s fines Tom Price, the Health on people who don’t buy and Human Services secretary, policies and erase its taxes argued that states will on health industry businesses get more freedom to experiment and higher earners. with the program and It would dilute consumerfriendly make sure that people who insurance coverage rely on Medicaid get the requirements, like prohibiting care and coverage they higher premiums need. for customers with pre-existing “There are no cuts to the medical conditions Medicaid program,” Mr. and watering down the subsidies Price insisted Sunday, adding that resources are being doled out to allow states greater flexibility.
Gov. John Kasich of Ohio questioned what would happen to the mentally ill, drug addicts and people with chronic illnesses under the changes proposed for Medicaid.
“They are going to be living in the emergency rooms again,” potentially driving up health care costs, Mr. Kasich predicted.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., plans to move forward under special procedures that allow legislation to pass with a simple majority vote, instead of the 60 usually required for major bills in the Senate.
That means Mr. McConnell can afford to lose just two senators; Vice President Mike Pence would vote to break a 50-50 tie in his constitutional role as vice president of the Senate.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., appeared resigned to the legislative reality that the bill he unveiled with great fanfare, after years of Republican pledges to replace what’s become known as “Obamacare,” will be altered as part of a “multistage process.”