WASHINGTON, House Republican leaders on Friday released a health care package aimed at lowering costs ahead of the looming expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits that help more than 20 million Americans afford coverage. The proposal stops short of extending the subsidies, a decision that could result in sharply higher premiums if Congress fails to act before the end of the year.
Instead, GOP leaders plan to allow a vote on a possible amendment that would extend the subsidies temporarily, an effort to placate moderate Republicans who have been pushing for one or two year extensions tied to reforms. Conservatives within the party argue the credits are vulnerable to fraud and should not benefit higher income households, while Democrats favor a longer extension without changes.
The Republican plan focuses on alternative cost controls, including expanding association health plans that allow employers to band together to purchase coverage, restoring funding for cost sharing reduction payments to lower premiums for some enrollees, and increasing transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers to rein in prescription drug prices.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republicans are targeting the root causes of rising health care costs rather than continuing what he described as subsidies that mask problems within the Affordable Care Act. Democratic leaders sharply disagreed. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the proposal an eleventh hour measure and said Democrats would oppose it if it reaches the floor.
The House Rules Committee is expected to take up the package Tuesday, setting the stage for a possible floor vote as early as midweek. Whether the plan can attract enough Republican support to pass remains uncertain.
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