US Chamber of Commerce backs Senate GOP healthcare bill

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a key vote Tuesday in support of the Republican healthcare proposal that would repeal and replace portions of Obamacare.

The group, which represents business organizations, said it supported the bill’s draft because it repeals the mandates and many of the taxes in Obamacare, including the medical device tax and the employer mandate that requires businesses with more than 50 full-time employees offer medical coverage. It also pointed to the flexibility and funding it said the bill allows states in crafting their own healthcare proposals.

“While the Chamber recognizes that further improvements can—and must—be made, passage of this legislation is vital to restoring choice, flexibility and innovation to America’s healthcare markets and growth to our economy,” Jack Howard, senior vice president of congressional and public affairs for the chamber, wrote in the letter.

The chamber pointed to the troubles the Obamacare exchanges have faced, including the effect of rising premiums on people who do not receive subsidies to buy private coverage, insurer exits from the exchanges and narrowing healthcare networks. The group said it believed the bill would help people who do not receive coverage from an employer have more options at a lower cost.

The Senate GOP’s healthcare draft, known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act, provides $15 billion per year for the exchanges in 2018 and 2019 and then $10 billion each year in 2020 and 2021. It also would continue Obamacare’s cost-sharing reduction subsidies, which go to insurers to help them lower out-of-pocket medical expenses for patients, through 2019.

The Chamber signed a coalition letter of support with 27 other organizations, including the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Restaurant Association.

“We the undersigned organizations recognize that the current healthcare system of this country under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is not working and is in need of serious and deep reforms,” the groups wrote, using Obamacare’s formal name.

Healthcare groups like the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association and the American Heart Association have come out strongly against the bill.

A Congressional Budget Office report released Monday projected that if it were to become law then the number of uninsured would increase by 22 million people by 2026. Senate GOP leaders have said they are aiming to pass a bill this week, but so far they lack the votes to move forward on debate over the legislation.

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