Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)
WASHINGTON – The House Ways and Means Committee advanced a reconciliation bill Tuesday in an attempt to dismantle five key components of the Affordable Care Act.
The legislation is supported by area Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY-23), who also sits on the committee.
If the legislation is passed using the rare measure, it would repeal individual and employer mandates, the Cadillac tax, the medical device tax and eliminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board. As a result, some 14 million fewer Americans would be insured, including both people who choose not to buy insurance and individuals who would lose their coverage. In exchange, the federal deficit would be reduced by approximately $44.2 billion.
While some provisions would be eliminated, certain aspects of the bill, including the ability for adults over the age of 22 to stay on their parent’s health insurance plans and the requirement for insurance companies to cover preexisting conditions, would stay in tact.
A select number of Democrats in Congress support the measure because it calls for the elimination of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a 15-member government agency established to recommend cuts to Medicare and Medicaid when spending reaches a certain level.
Removing the mandates passed the committee Tuesday along party lines in a 23-14 vote with Democrats rejecting the measure. The House Budget Committee will take on the bill in coming weeks, before it eventually goes to the house floor for a full vote.
Although Congressman Reed says there is bipartisan support for the legislation on the house floor, it’s unlikely there is enough to overturn what would likely be a presidential veto, should the bill makes its way to the floors of both the house and senate and eventually find approval.
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