House Democrats Introduce Bill To Expand ACA

The House will vote Monday on a Democratic proposal to expand the Affordable Care Act.

The measure includes Democratic priorities such as expanding the ACA’s subsidies to make premiums more affordable and encouraging states to expand Medicaid by increasing federal Medicaid funding. It also would do away with Trump administration policies such as expanding the availability of short-term plans that compete with ACA coverage.

Despite making these changes to the ACA, the bill does not address single-payer health care or a public option.

Regardless of the House vote, the Republican-controlled Senate is expected to take no action on the bill. But Monday’s House vote will coincide with Thursday’s deadline for the Trump administration to file its brief with the Supreme Court arguing for the ACA to be struck down.

The House bill would be funded by including a provision to allow the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, part of major drug pricing legislation that House Democrats passed last year.