House Committees Unveil Affordable Care Act Repeal/Replace Bill

Congressional Republican leaders have indicated that they will approach the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act in three steps: 1) repeal and replace through the so-called "budget reconciliation" process; 2) administrative actions to the extent permitted by federal law; and 3) separate legislation for policy changes or other priorities that cannot be accomplished through the budget reconciliation process.

On Monday, March 6, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives released their Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal and replace budget reconciliation legislation. The American Health Care Act (AHCA) consists of two titles – one drafted by the Energy and Commerce Committee and one by the Ways and Means Committee. The legislation is similar to a number of proposals that the GOP has circulated over the past year or two, but also excludes a number of changes that have been widely discussed. The Holland & Knight Healthcare & Life Sciences team has summarized these changes in a memo.