Senate committee resolution starts Obamacare fight as AMA asks for replacement, not repeal
Resolution enables Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act with a simple majority vote.
The 115th Congress wasted no time in crafting the means to repeal Obamacare.
The Senate Budget Committee on Tuesday released a budget resolution that enables Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act with a simple majority vote.
A floor vote in the Senate is expected next week, according to Politico.
The GOP-controlled House is expected to take up the budget resolution soon after that.
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The budget resolution starts with a budget reconciliation bill that includes language repealing major parts of the ACA. Republicans can pass budget reconciliation with a simple majority that cannot be filibustered by Senate Democrats.
The budget unveiled Tuesday includes at least $1 billion in deficit reduction through 2026, with proposals going to the budget committees by Jan. 27, according to published reports.
Meanwhile the American Medical Association has released a letter to congressional leaders calling for a replacement plan.
AMA CEO and Executive Vice President James L. Madara, MD, wrote to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Leader Charles Schumer, Speaker Paul Ryan and Leader Nancy Pelosi.
"Consistent with this core principle, we believe that before any action is taken through reconciliation or other means that would potentially alter coverage, policymakers should lay out for the American people, in reasonable detail, what will replace current policies," he said.
The AMA supported passage of the Affordable Care Act because it was a significant improvement on the status quo at that time, Madara said.
"We continue to embrace the primary goal of that law--to make high quality, affordable health care coverage accessible to all Americans," he said. "We also recognize that the ACA is imperfect and there a number of issues that need to be addressed."
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
