Dive Brief:
- Senate Republicans say they are optimistic they will soon get the necessary support to pass a reconciliation bill repealing bits of the ACA healthcare law, and send it to President Obama's desk.
- The move would be symbolic given Obama would veto the bill. However, it would allow Republicans to say Congress overturned Obamacare, without having to face any real consequences from constituents who would lose their coverage if the bill were actually signed into law.
- Senate Republicans are pulling in more support by making the bill more aggressive to appeal to conservatives who said the version passed by the House didn't go far enough.
Dive Insight:
The bill has highlighted the divide on the issue of ACA repeal between conservative and moderate Republicans, and in the end is targeting conservative votes by phasing out Medicaid expansion and retaining a provision to defund Planned Parenthood despite the recent shooting at a clinic in Colorado.
The bill would also do away with a medical device tax and the "Cadillac tax" for high-cost health plans, and eliminate the subsidies available to help consumers buy insurance, Politico reports.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill as soon as it has 51 of its 54 Republicans onboard, which could be as early as this week. The bill could then see numerous amendments before landing on Obama's desk.