Repeal and replace unlikely in new Congress, panel says

By Susan Rupe

While we still await the full results of the midterm election, it’s possible we will see a shift from unified Democratic control of the White House and Congress to divided power. That split in political control of the federal government raises questions around what can be accomplished feasibly to address health policy issues in the next two years.

One that that will not be an issue in the new Congress is repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, Jennifer Young, partner with Tarplin, Downs and Young, said during a Tuesday webinar held by KFF.

“Repeal and replace is not a winning issue and a Democratic president isn’t likely to sign it into law,” she said.

Young predicted members of the new Congress will coalesce around some core health care issues including affordability, research and development, doctor/patient relationships, promoting electronic health records and reform of prior authorization. She said we can expect to see these core issues build out through House and Senate committees over the next several months.

In a closely divided Congress, most members will want to pursue policy that actually has a chance of getting passed, said Chris Jennings, founder and president of Jennings Policy Strategies. Some of those policies, he said, include advancing mental health policy, telehealth and technology, and substance abuse treatment.

“I think some things will get done,” he said. “Mental health for children is one example; we have a real crisis going on here. There’s a real interest in pursuing these things.”

A polarized Congress could mean greater use of executive order or the regulatory branch of government to promote the president’s agenda, Jennings said. Some issues that could fall under this scenario, he said, include changes to Medicare, extension of the Affordable Care Act marketplace premiums, and preparing for the end to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Susan Rupe is managing editor for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @INNsusan.