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 Trump and congressional Republicans campaigned on a promise to
dismantle Obamacare, and they are working on carrying out that
pledge as an early product of united Republican control of the White
House and Congress.
But the legislative proposal by Senators Susan Collins of Maine and
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana would let states choose to keep Obamacare
or move to a replacement program, for which states would also
receive some federal funding.
Cassidy, himself a doctor, said such an approach could help attract
Democratic votes that will be needed for an eventual replacement for
Obamacare, former Democratic President Barack Obama's health
insurance program approved in 2010.
The proposal did not, however, win over the Senate's leading
Democrat, Chuck Schumer, who denounced the idea as an "empty facade"
and a "far cry" from a full replacement for Obamacare.
Democrats strongly oppose a repeal of Obamacare, officially called
the Affordable Care Act. But after a meeting Monday of congressional
leaders and Trump, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said
Democrats were willing to discuss Republican healthcare proposals if
they accomplish the same goals.
"Well, we talked about the Affordable Care Act, and said, what the
Affordable Care Act has been successful in doing is improving
quality, expanding access and lowering costs. And any proposal that
they might have that does that – we’d be interested in hearing
about," Pelosi said after the meeting at the White House.
At the Republican news conference earlier, Collins called Trump's
executive order issued Friday against Obamacare "very confusing,"
adding that whatever actions the Trump administration takes,
legislation will still be needed to replace the law.
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"We really don't know yet what the impact will be," Collins, a
moderate Republican, said, adding that it will be difficult to
assess the order's impact until there is a new Cabinet secretary in
place in charge of health.
Trump signed his executive order on Friday within hours of taking
office. It directs U.S. agencies to "waive, defer, grant exemptions
from, or delay the implementation" of provisions of Obamacare deemed
to impose fiscal burdens on states, companies or individuals.
The order did not specify which parts of Obamacare would be affected
or the timing.
Trump's nominee to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Representative Tom Price of Georgia, has said there is no
plan for "pulling the rug out" on millions of Americans' healthcare
as a replacement is designed. Any changes are unlikely to affect in
2017 the government-funded or subsidized insurance plans covering
more than 20 million people.
(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by
Cynthia Osterman and Leslie Adler)
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