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| Republican-backed health bill clears first hurdle in House | Republican-backed health bill clears first hurdle in House |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A key congressional committee has approved the Republican healthcare bill after debating for nearly 18 hours. | A key congressional committee has approved the Republican healthcare bill after debating for nearly 18 hours. |
| The proposed legislation scored its first procedural victory, despite objections from Democrats, hospitals and even some Republicans. | The proposed legislation scored its first procedural victory, despite objections from Democrats, hospitals and even some Republicans. |
| The bill would replace Barack Obama's signature law, so-called Obamacare. | The bill would replace Barack Obama's signature law, so-called Obamacare. |
| The other House of Representatives committee considering the plan, known as the American Health Care Act, is still debating the proposal. | The other House of Representatives committee considering the plan, known as the American Health Care Act, is still debating the proposal. |
| "This is an historic step, an important step in the repeal of Obamacare," said Republican Representative Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means committee, which voted 23-16 on the measure in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday. | "This is an historic step, an important step in the repeal of Obamacare," said Republican Representative Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means committee, which voted 23-16 on the measure in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday. |
| The committee made no changes to the draft legislation, despite Democratic attempts to introduce amendments. | The committee made no changes to the draft legislation, despite Democratic attempts to introduce amendments. |
| The chamber's Energy and Commerce committee was still working through its own marathon session as of Thursday morning. | The chamber's Energy and Commerce committee was still working through its own marathon session as of Thursday morning. |
| Congress is aiming to pass the bill, which was unveiled on Monday, within the next few weeks. | Congress is aiming to pass the bill, which was unveiled on Monday, within the next few weeks. |
| The new plan would dismantle much of Mr Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act. | The new plan would dismantle much of Mr Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act. |
| It would also: | It would also: |
| The American Hospital Association (AHA), a leading trade group representing hospitals, said current provisions for "our most vulnerable" would be thrown into doubt. | The American Hospital Association (AHA), a leading trade group representing hospitals, said current provisions for "our most vulnerable" would be thrown into doubt. |
| President Donald Trump met lawmakers on Wednesday to rally them behind the bill, after a stormy 24 hours. | President Donald Trump met lawmakers on Wednesday to rally them behind the bill, after a stormy 24 hours. |
| Moderate Republicans are also concerned people will be stripped of cover, while conservatives sense federal overreach. | Moderate Republicans are also concerned people will be stripped of cover, while conservatives sense federal overreach. |
| Democrats continue to argue that it is impossible to push through a bill without knowing its cost and how many Americans would be affected - figures which have yet to be released. | Democrats continue to argue that it is impossible to push through a bill without knowing its cost and how many Americans would be affected - figures which have yet to be released. |
| Overall, the plan is expected to cover fewer people than those who gained insurance under the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act. | Overall, the plan is expected to cover fewer people than those who gained insurance under the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act. |
| However, the predicted numbers and cost will not be clear for about another week, when the Congressional Budget Office delivers its verdict on the proposed overhaul to the more than $3tn (£2.4tn) US healthcare system. | |
| What did the hospitals and doctors say about it? | What did the hospitals and doctors say about it? |
| The president of the AHA, which represents about 5,000 hospitals and health networks, said in a letter to Congress that the ability to assess the bill was "severely hampered" by the lack of a proper estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. | The president of the AHA, which represents about 5,000 hospitals and health networks, said in a letter to Congress that the ability to assess the bill was "severely hampered" by the lack of a proper estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. |
| But the plans for Medicaid "will have the effect of making significant reductions in a programme that provides services to our most vulnerable populations", Rick Pollack wrote. | But the plans for Medicaid "will have the effect of making significant reductions in a programme that provides services to our most vulnerable populations", Rick Pollack wrote. |
| In a separate letter, a large doctors' group, the American Medical Association, also urged Congress to reconsider reducing insurance for the poor. | In a separate letter, a large doctors' group, the American Medical Association, also urged Congress to reconsider reducing insurance for the poor. |
| The AARP, a lobbying group for older Americans, has opposed the plan too, saying funding for the Medicare insurance programme for the elderly could be cut. | The AARP, a lobbying group for older Americans, has opposed the plan too, saying funding for the Medicare insurance programme for the elderly could be cut. |
| Who is speaking up for the bill? | Who is speaking up for the bill? |
| House Speaker Paul Ryan praised the bill as "a conservative wish list" and "monumental, exciting conservative reform." | House Speaker Paul Ryan praised the bill as "a conservative wish list" and "monumental, exciting conservative reform." |
| "This is what we've been dreaming about doing," he told reporters. | "This is what we've been dreaming about doing," he told reporters. |
| President Trump campaigned on repealing Obamacare, which he says has suffered from rising premiums and a lack of choice. | President Trump campaigned on repealing Obamacare, which he says has suffered from rising premiums and a lack of choice. |
| White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the president was "in full sell mode". | White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the president was "in full sell mode". |
| As well as convincing Americans, he has to first persuade sceptics in his own party. | As well as convincing Americans, he has to first persuade sceptics in his own party. |
| Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress, but it is unclear if they will get enough votes to get the bill through. | Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress, but it is unclear if they will get enough votes to get the bill through. |
| The bill will be "dead on arrival" at the doors of the Senate, said Kentucky senator Rand Paul. | The bill will be "dead on arrival" at the doors of the Senate, said Kentucky senator Rand Paul. |