Paige Winfield Cunningham of the Washington Examiner highlights Republicans’ efforts to develop a replacement for the Affordable Care Act.
Some lawmakers want to provide people with tax credits to buy coverage, while others want deductions. Some House conservatives are suspicious of phasing out Obamacare gradually. And a growing group of senators are stressing that replace must happen at the same time as repeal.
The party is united around the idea that there must be some sort of healthcare reform, but it’s divided over how quickly to repeal the law, how long it should take to phase out and whether a replacement needs to be passed at the same time.
In short, the pathway is there for Republicans to repeal and possibly replace the Affordable Care Act, but it’s a rocky, pothole-filled road.
Two plans, one offered by House Speaker Paul Ryan and the other from Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Tom Price, are expected to be the most important guides to a replacement.