The House votes to reverse Trump's rules on Obama's health law



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Parliament on Thursday approved a bill that would limit the Trump administration's efforts to allow states to authorize the sale of health products. insurance plans that do not meet all the requirements of the law in force.

"This will send another message to the White House that this Democratic Congress will be a brick wall against any attempt to remove health care from the people," said Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) , while Democrats accused the president of "sabotaging" the Obama health bill.

"Unfortunately, the Trump administration is trying to weaken these protections," said Rep. Cathy Castor (D-FL).

"The Trump administration has obviously tried to repeal it," said Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ) of the Affordable Care Act ("Affordable Care Act"), while trying to "get rid of it." use all the book's regulatory tricks to undermine and sabotage the ACA. "

The bill would revoke the new guidelines for what is formally known as Chapter 1332 renouncements for state innovation – Democrats argue that the Trump government simply sought to allow states to use these waivers to circumvent Obama's health law.

Four Republicans broke ranks to vote in favor of the plan: Sensenbrenner (WI), Katko (NY), Fitzpatrick (PA) and Smith (NJ).

But for Republicans – who have championed health care over the past two years because the government failed to repeal and replace Obama's health bill – this democratic effort is nothing more than part of a political PR campaign.

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"This bill has everything to do with eliminating health care options and choices for states," said Representative Greg Walden (R-OR), who led the GOP's efforts in the area of ​​health care. health care.

The White House has already threatened to veto the veto.

"The legislation threatens the access of our country's citizens to health care and goes against the president's health vision of expanding affordable coverage, improving care for people already and increase competition, "said the White House.

Proponents of the Trump administration's changes argue that the new options would give states the opportunity to offer consumers choices that do not fit the uniform requirements of Obama's health law.

But even with this option offered by the White House last year, no state has yet signed up to take full advantage of the regulatory changes. Seven states have instead opted for the creation of reinsurance programs, but not to allow the sale of insurance options that do not meet all the requirements of the Obama Health Act.

Democrats and Republicans even contested the name of this bill – the "2019 Law on the Protection of Americans from Pre-Existing Diseases" – claiming that the GOP's title had nothing to do with the subject but was simply a political game.

A GOP amendment rejected in the House would have renamed it "politically punishable title not reflecting the Bill Substance Act" – another would have changed the title of "This bill actually has nothing to do with protecting Americans with the Pre-Existing Conditions Act. "

These amendments, as well as other GOP plans, were rejected by the House as a whole.

The Democrats bill is now going to the Senate, where it is unlikely that it will be put to a vote.