From the Desk of Bob McNett……
Is the Health Care Bill Finally Dead?
On Friday, the U.S. Senate voted down passage of the Republican-sponsored health care bill. Three Republicans joined all Democrats in the 49-51 defeat.
There was hope that the new configuration of the bill, the so-called “skinny billâ€, which made less overarching changes than prior versions, and made no cuts to Medicaid expansion, would gather enough support. However, a few Republican hold-outs continued to buck their President, majority leader and colleagues.
In retrospect, the problem seems to be more than just politics. There are true differences in philosophies and beliefs amongst Republicans Senators about what role government should play in health care. Attitudes about the general role of government in our society amongst Republican Senators go from very conservative to something bordering on liberal. Republicans currently hold the slimmest of margins in terms of members in the Senate, so even a couple of hold-outs can scotch efforts to pass major legislation.
Both President Trump and majority leader McConnell seem willing now to go on to other issues (Trump’s tweets the next few days may tell us something)….next up would seem to be tax reform. The question is…..will tax reform now face the same fate as health care?
In my opinion, we will continue to see hearings by various committees in the Senate and House on health care. So, efforts to come up with a compromise may continue. But, the health care bill seems to be deader than it has ever been.
We will see if insurers are able to stabilize the individual market going forward, without Obamacare repeal, or if the roof collapses on those people buying coverage in that market.