House debate on reform repeal began July 10

Modern Healthcare, By Jessica Zigmond –

July 10, 2012: Facing a veto threat from the White House, House members will begin debate today on legislation to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

In a statement of administration policy (PDF), the Obama administration said repealing the 2010 healthcare law would have implications well beyond the estimated 30 million Americans without health insurance who would lose the coverage they would receive. Overturning the law, the statement said, would also cause more than 250 million Americans with insurance—including Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance—to lose the benefits they have received under the law.

“The last thing the Congress should do is refight old political battles and take a massive step backward by repealing basic protections that provide security for the middle class,” the statement said. “Right now, the Congress needs to work together to focus on the economy and creating jobs.” The statement also promised that the president would veto the bill if he’s presented with it.

Meanwhile, Douglas Elmendorf, director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, wrote in a blog post Monday that his office is still evaluating the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act. “Because such updated projections are the base against which CBO will estimate the budgetary effects of the changes in the ACA, CBO cannot provide estimates of the effects of such changes—including the effects of repealing the ACA—until that assessment is completed during the week of July 23,” Elmendorf wrote.

Neither the veto promise nor Elmendorf’s notice has stopped House leaders in their effort to dismantle the law. The lower chamber is expected to vote on House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) bill on Wednesday.

Source: John & Rusty Report via Brown & Word