GOP senators now try to repeal ACA, could spell trouble for Chelan medicaid recipients

CHELAN - After two failed attempts it might still be a tough sell to Republicans, Democrats and the public, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is going to proceed any way in trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.

With the GOP’s replacement bill falling flat amongst their own party over the past few weeks, Republican senators are scrambling to secure the 50 votes needed to repeal Obamacare.

In a report released Wednesday, July 19, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored the bill and stated that a “repeal only” bill would leave 32 million more people uninsured and double premiums over the next decade. In the first year, the CBO indicated that around 17 million people would lose their insurance as a result of the bill, which of repeals most of the taxes (including the individual mandate) and ends medicaid expansion.

Lake Chelan Community Hospital CEO Kevin Abel responded by saying, “I think Medicaid expansion is important to people of this region,” Abel said. “But there are some aspects in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that need some improvements as well. For instance, the  number of insurers in Chelan County. We are down to just one on the exchange, so it would be good to make some improvements there and see some additional insurers.”

Although the bill wouldn’t go into effect until 2019, the CBO predicts that insurers and consumers will bolt, leaving older and sicker individuals to pay higher premiums in an unstable market.

There are whispers in Washington, D.C., that Senator McConnell doesn’t have near the 50 Republican votes required to pass, but President Trump and GOP leaders are making last ditch efforts to convince wavering senators.

Just before the CBO released their report on Wednesday, President Trump gathered GOP senators to the White House and directed them to place a repeal bill on his desk before leaving for the August recess.

 Senators Shelley Moore (R-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have already said they would oppose any repeal bill without a replacement in motion. Susan Collins (R-ME) also announced she would vote no on the bill, effectively killing any chance of repealing the legislation in the Senate. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

For seven years the GOP has consistently placed repealing Obamacare at the top of their agenda, but if they fail to muster any legislation out of the Senate for a third time, they might have to move on from healthcare, at least until after the 2018 mid-term elections.

Zach Johnson can be reached at lcmeditor@gmail.com or (509) 682-2213