Senate Floor Action on Healthcare Bill Delayed

Posted on July 16, 2017

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced late Saturday that the Senate consideration of the revised healthcare legislation will be postponed. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had a blood clot removed on Friday and is not expected to return to the Senate the week of July 17. With two members who have already publicly declared their opposition to the measure, the Senate Republicans have no votes to spare. Floor consideration of the bill will be delayed until Sen. McCain returns to Washington.

Text of New Senate Healthcare Bill Released

Posted on July 13, 2017

As expected, the Senate Republicans released earlier today the text of the revised version of their healthcare legislation. The bill language is available here.

It is unclear at this point whether this version will generate enough support for passage. The previous version had to be pulled from consideration because of too much opposition from within the Republican conference.

Congress Returns to Town

Posted on July 10, 2017July 10, 2017

After its July Fourth recess, Congress returns to Washington for three weeks before leaving town for a scheduled five-week August recess.

The Senate Republicans are still trying to address intra-party differences on a “repeal and replace” healthcare bill. In the House, the Appropriations Committee continues to press forward on its versions of FY2018 spending bills even as the assumed total amount of funding available for the bills will require changes to existing law; the Senate appropriators are also attempting to move their first bill this week as well.

No Vote This Week on Senate Healthcare Bill

Posted on June 27, 2017

On Tuesday, the Senate Republican leadership postponed a vote on its healthcare legislation until at least after the chamber returns from its week-long July 4th recess.

CBO Estimates 22 Million Would Lose Coverage Under Senate Bill

Posted on June 26, 2017

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the entity charged with estimating the potential impacts of legislation, released this afternoon its analysis of the Senate version of the healthcare legislation aimed at replacing the Affordable Care Act.

In its view (the “score”), the CBO reports that the bill would lead to 22 million individuals losing coverage by 2026. The CBO believes that 49 million individuals would be uninsured by 2026.