Senate

Rand Paul introduces ObamaCare repeal alternative

by Jordain Carney - 03/09/17 10:47 AM ET

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is pushing an alternative ObamaCare repeal bill amid growing opposition to the House GOP leadership’s plan.

Paul introduced a bill — known as the ObamaCare repeal bill — mirrored off a 2015 bill that cleared the Senate along party lines.

“The Republican Party is unified on Obamacare repeal,” Paul said in a statement. “We can honor our promise right away by passing the same language we acted on in the last Congress.”

Paul’s proposal would effectively separate repeal of ObamaCare from replacement. The move could alienate a group of centrist Republicans who want, at a minimum, the key details of replacement nailed down before they vote to repeal.

{mosads}But Paul argued that Republicans are “unified” on wanting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and senators could debate a replacement plan later.

“[After repeal] we can have a separate vote on replacement legislation that will deliver lower costs, better care, and greater access to the American people,” he said.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has introduced the legislation in the House.

The bill includes a staggered repeal of ObamaCare taxes, including a repeal of the Medical Device Tax in 2018 and the Cadillac Tax in 2020.

The legislation would also eliminate eligibility for ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion as of 2020 as well as the higher federal matching rate included in the Affordable Care Act.

The move would likely draw opposition from a group of moderate Senate Republicans who have threatened they would vote against any bill that doesn’t protect the Medicaid funding expansion in their home states.

Paul’s bill comes as a growing number of GOP senators are raising concerns over a House proposal to repeal and replace ObamaCare.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said in a series of tweets on Thursday morning that his House colleagues should be focused on getting healthcare reform “right,” not “fast.”

1. House health-care bill can’t pass Senate w/o major changes. To my friends in House: pause, start over. Get it right, don’t get it fast.

— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) March 9, 2017

GOP senators say they believe the House bill will need significant changes before it can pass the Senate.

Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price are meeting with GOP senators on Thursday about the healthcare bill.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said they talked about Ohio’s Medicaid expansion.

“I support making structural improvements to the Medicaid program, but we must provide stability and certainty for individuals and families in Medicaid expansion programs and real flexibility for states,” he said.

Republicans have a narrow path to passing ObamaCare repeal. They have a 52-seat majority, meaning they can only afford to lose two GOP senators and still pass repeal.

Tags Mike Pence Rand Paul Rob Portman Tom Cotton