Congressional Budget Office says Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act of 2018 would create $19 billion deficit
Cost-sharing reduction payments and reinsurance face uphill battle for inclusion.
Efforts to include health insurance stabilization measures in an omnibus appropriations bill face what appears to be insurmountable objections ahead of Friday's deadline.
GOP leaders have accused Democrats for holding up the bipartisan stabilization amendment because of the latter's objections to the proposal being tied to a Hyde Amendment that would prevent federal funds from going to any insurer offering abortion coverage.
The Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act of 2018 would appropriate $30.5 billion for a reinsurance program or a high-risk pool to help cover the expenses of higher cost patients.
Also under the amendment, insurers would again gain federal funds for cost-sharing reduction payments that they then pass on to lower-income beneficiaries to help cover deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.
America's Health Insurance Plans, the American Hospital Association and other healthcare organizations have told Congressional leaders that both measures are necessary to stabilize the individual Affordable Care Act market and to keep premium prices affordable.
The appropriations bill amendment was proposed by Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Representatives Greg Walden of Oregon and Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania.
On Monday, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the amendment would increase the deficit by $19.1 billion between 2018 and 2027 and that under it, fewer than 500,000 people would gain health insurance coverage from 2019 to 2022.
Congressional leaders were still working to hammer out details of the omnibus appropriations bill by Friday's deadline.
They have reached a preliminary $1.3 trillion budget appropriation that includes a $2.8 billion increase for opioid prevention and treatment, according to Roll Call.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com
