Enzi, Barrasso confident in GOP health-care reform process

Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, WY)

June 23--CHEYENNE -- Congressional Republicans took another step toward their long-promised goal of rolling back the Affordable Care Act on Thursday when the Senate revealed its proposal to reform health care.

Wyoming Republican Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso were part of a 13-member Senate group that worked largely behind closed doors to craft the bill to replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The U.S. House passed its own version of health-care reform, known as the American Health Care Act, in May. While there are important differences in the Senate's version, it too calls for significant reductions in federal health-care spending over the next several years.

A Congressional Budget Office analysis is expected next week. This follows its May analysis that the House bill would leave 14 million more people uninsured next year than would be under the current health-care law, with 23 million more in 2026.

The House bill was widely criticized for many of its provisions, including by President Donald Trump, who characterized the bill as "mean" to a group of senators last week. During a campaign-style rally Wednesday in Iowa, Trump told the crowd he wanted a bill "with heart" and that congressional leaders should "add some money" to the replacement law. Trump added, however, he "couldn't guarantee anything" when it comes to GOP-led health-care reform.

The Senate working group, Enzi said, was crafting its bill long before the president's comments. He said, "There is a lot to not like in the House bill," and the GOP senators wanted to make "some obvious changes."

"The direction and changes in this discussion draft were because of the discussions with Republican members," Enzi said.

Barrasso released a statement Thursday in which he said the Senate bill did not achieve everything he wanted, but replacing Obamacare as soon as possible is critical.

"What we are proposing steers health care sharply away from federal mandates, higher taxes and government control," Barrasso states.

"The bill is not perfect, and because of budget rules it doesn't include every prescription I would have liked. What I do know is that our path is a vast improvement over Obamacare and will finally start to build a health-care system that works for many more Americans."

The Obamacare marketplace is in turmoil. Amid uncertainty as to whether they can count on critical federal funds to compensate carriers for covering low-income customers, insurers continue pulling out of the market. This has left counties in several states with few-to-no health insurance options.

Democrats contend, however, GOP lawmakers such as Sen. Mark Rubio of Florida have made legislative efforts to undermine Obamacare as they try to make a solid case for a need to reform health care.

As with Obamacare's passage in 2010, the passage of GOP health-care reform is almost certain to be a party-line vote. When Democrats began proceedings for the passage of their health-care bill in 2009, there were 25 straight days of debate. This was preceded by Senate committees spending weeks poring over the bill.

Though Republicans for years criticized Democrats for the way they passed their bill, Enzi said it doesn't make sense to make an "apples-to-apples" comparison between the process of passing Obamacare and the GOP legislation. He said he does not think Republican ideas on health care at the time "were ever taken seriously" or that the passage was done in a "bipartisan manner."

"As we move forward debating the discussion draft released (Thursday), senators will have the opportunity to offer amendments," he said. "In the Senate, you rarely get to offer unlimited amendments. That certainly makes the process more open than normal."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he would like a vote before lawmakers leave for the July 4 recess. Enzi confirmed that McConnell is looking to hold to that timeline. Even with just a few days left before its deadline, Enzi said he's confident it's enough time for his colleagues in the Senate and constituency to digest the legislation.

"We have been discussing the problems with Obamacare for seven years, and many of these ideas have been discussed with colleagues over the last several months," Enzi said.

"While the discussion draft may have just been released, the ideas themselves are not all new, and members will have a chance to offer amendments to the bill on the floor."

Though Republicans hold a majority in the Senate, they can only afford to lose two votes. While all involved acknowledge negotiations on making the bill palatable are forthcoming, at least four GOP senators indicated they did not support the bill in its current form. Enzi said there's no telling if they'll find the votes they need to pass the bill. But he said there's no time to waste in reforming health care.

"We have a lot of restrictions on what we can do with this proposal because of the rules of reconciliation, so it may not have everything everybody wants," he said.

"But ultimately Obamacare is collapsing, and the longer we wait, the worse the problem will get. This is our opportunity to make a difference."

Enzi said he's not focused on what will happen next should the GOP's attempt to pass health-care reform fail. But he said he's confident his colleagues in Congress are committed to finding a way forward.

"We cannot fix the system by just ignoring the problems we face," he said. "There are people suffering, and that is why it is so important that we get this done now."

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