By Caitlin Yilek
Washington — House Republican leaders on Friday released a health care proposal aimed at addressing rising costs ahead of a year-end lapse in Affordable Care Act tax credits that would sharply increase premiums for more than 20 million Americans.
The package does not extend the ACA subsidies directly. Instead, GOP leaders said they will permit a vote on an amendment that would extend the expiring tax credits, according to a Republican leadership aide. That approach is intended to placate moderate Republicans who are pushing — via a discharge petition — for separate floor votes on measures to extend the subsidies for one to two years with accompanying reforms.
The extension has split Republicans: some argue the subsidies are prone to fraud and that higher-income households should no longer qualify. Democrats have advocated a three-year extension without changes, which GOP leaders reject.
Republicans’ plan includes provisions to expand association health plans, allowing multiple employers to pool together to buy coverage and lower benefit costs. It would fund cost-sharing reduction payments intended to reduce premiums for some ACA enrollees and would push for greater transparency from pharmacy benefit managers to help lower drug prices.
“While Democrats demand that taxpayers write bigger checks to insurance companies to hide the cost of their failed law, House Republicans are tackling the real drivers of health care costs to provide affordable care, increase access and choice, and restore integrity to our nation’s health care system for all Americans,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson has been meeting with leaders from different GOP factions this week to try to forge consensus. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the package Tuesday afternoon, potentially clearing it for a floor vote as soon as Tuesday evening or Wednesday.
It remains uncertain whether the measure has enough support to pass the full House. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the GOP proposal an “11th hour measure” and said Democrats would oppose it if it reaches the floor. “House Democrats will continue our fight to protect the healthcare of the American people,” Jeffries said, adding that Democrats remain willing to work in good faith to prevent the ACA tax credits from expiring but criticized the Republican bill as “toxic” and not designed to win bipartisan backing.