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Republicans unveil revised Obamacare repeal bill Republicans unveil revised Obamacare repeal bill
(35 minutes later)
US Senate Republicans have published a revised health bill in a bid to rally their divided party around its wavering election pledge to repeal Obamacare. US Senate Republicans have published a revised health bill in a bid to rally their divided party around its seven-year campaign to repeal Obamacare.
The proposal retains key Obamacare taxes on the wealthy in an attempt bid to win over moderate party members.The proposal retains key Obamacare taxes on the wealthy in an attempt bid to win over moderate party members.
It includes part of one senator's plan to let insurers offer policies with less coverage than Obamacare. It would also let insurers offer less coverage than Obamacare and retains cuts to healthcare for the poor.
Congress is delaying its summer holiday in a bid to overturn former President Barack Obama's 2010 legislation.Congress is delaying its summer holiday in a bid to overturn former President Barack Obama's 2010 legislation.
What's new?What's new?
The latest version of the Republican bill would keep two taxes on the wealthy that helped pay for Obamacare: The latest version of the Republican bill would retain two taxes on people earning more than $200,000 (£155,000), which has helped pay for Obamacare.
The Better Care Reconciliation Act would provide an extra $45bn to tackle the US opioid epidemic that is wreaking havoc in some Republican senators' constituencies. But plans to impose deep cuts on Medicaid, a healthcare programme for the poor and disabled, are largely unchanged in the new Republican bill.
It would include an additional $70bn to help cover so-called out-of-pocket medical expenses, which are not reimbursed by insurers. The Better Care Reconciliation Act would also provide an extra $45bn to tackle the US opioid epidemic that is wreaking havoc in some Republican senators' constituencies.
It includes an additional $70bn to help cover so-called out-of-pocket medical expenses, which are not reimbursed by insurers.
The bill also incorporates Senator Ted Cruz's proposal to let insurers offer stripped-down, low-cost healthcare plans by ducking Obamacare rules requiring coverage for "essential" health benefits.The bill also incorporates Senator Ted Cruz's proposal to let insurers offer stripped-down, low-cost healthcare plans by ducking Obamacare rules requiring coverage for "essential" health benefits.
These include maternity and postnatal care, mental health services, addiction treatment, outpatient care, hospitalisation, emergency room visits and prescription drugs.These include maternity and postnatal care, mental health services, addiction treatment, outpatient care, hospitalisation, emergency room visits and prescription drugs.
Insurance companies have warned that Senator Cruz's proposal would harm people with pre-existing medical conditions by making their insurance unaffordable.Insurance companies have warned that Senator Cruz's proposal would harm people with pre-existing medical conditions by making their insurance unaffordable.
Plans to impose deep cuts on Medicaid, a healthcare programme for the poor and disabled, are largely unchanged in the new Republican bill. The Congressional Budget Office found that the last version of the bill would leave 22 million fewer people insured over a decade.
Senate Republicans are now awaiting a new assessment from the nonpartisan score-keeper.
Can Republicans pass this bill?Can Republicans pass this bill?
The Obamacare repeal has been testing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's reputation as a master tactician.The Obamacare repeal has been testing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's reputation as a master tactician.
He must conjure a compromise option that will appease both moderates and conservatives among his rank-and-file.He must conjure a compromise option that will appease both moderates and conservatives among his rank-and-file.
Democrats are united against the bill, which means that just three "no" votes among Republican senators would sink the legislation.Democrats are united against the bill, which means that just three "no" votes among Republican senators would sink the legislation.
Republicans have a 52-48 majority in the 100-seat Senate, with Vice-President Mike Pence able to cast a potential tie-breaking vote.Republicans have a 52-48 majority in the 100-seat Senate, with Vice-President Mike Pence able to cast a potential tie-breaking vote.
Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky already appear firmly opposed to the measure.
Moderate senators such as Rob Portman of Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are alarmed by the planned Medicaid cuts.
Underlining the divisions, minutes before Mr McConnell unveiled his plan, two other Republican senators, Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy, offered their own healthcare proposal.Underlining the divisions, minutes before Mr McConnell unveiled his plan, two other Republican senators, Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy, offered their own healthcare proposal.
Their plan would steer much of the federal funding for health insurance to the states.Their plan would steer much of the federal funding for health insurance to the states.
President Donald Trump, who made repeal of Obamacare a core campaign pledge, is monitoring the Senate developments while on a visit to France.President Donald Trump, who made repeal of Obamacare a core campaign pledge, is monitoring the Senate developments while on a visit to France.
He said in an interview on Wednesday he would be "very angry" if he did not get a bill on his desk, exhorting Mr McConnell to "pull it off".He said in an interview on Wednesday he would be "very angry" if he did not get a bill on his desk, exhorting Mr McConnell to "pull it off".
A vote is planned on the bill, should agreement emerge, next week.A vote is planned on the bill, should agreement emerge, next week.