​Health Care Reform

Background:

In 2010, then-President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protect and Affordable Care Act, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare. ASA was actively involved in those discussions to attempt to ensure fair outcomes for the specialty.  In the Republican-controlled 115th Congress, with President Donald Trump, Republicans vowed to “repeal and replace” this controversial law. ASA will continue to monitor developments in the 116th Congress and advocate for the concerns of physician anesthesiologists and their patients to be addressed. 

Email ASA's Advocacy Division at [email protected] with any questions or requests for more information. 

Key Information:

ASA Information

One Pager: Medicare-Based Reform Proposals Can’t Support Anesthesia Practices (PDF)

Medicare for All: ASA Statement for the Record on House Rules Committee Hearing on H.R. 1384, the “Medicare for All Act of 2019”

ASA Summary of the House and Senate Health Care Reform Bills: Overview of the legislation as of June 26, 2017 (PDF).

ASA Principles for Health Care Reform: Principles that ASA wants to ensure in any proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act or other legislation related to access to health care (PDF)

Provide Loan Relief to Medical Residents: Support the Resident Education Deferred Interest Act (REDI Act) (PDF)

Information on the Senate Bill

Graham-Cassidy Bill Summary: Summary of the Graham-Cassidy bill to replace the Affordable Care Act (PDF)

Graham-Cassidy Bill: Text of the Graham-Cassidy bill to replace the Affordable Care Act

Better Care Reconciliation Act Section by Section Summary: Summary of H.R. 1628.

Better Care Reconciliation Act (updated 7/20/17): Discussion draft of the health care repeal and replace legislation

Congressional Budget Office Analysis of H.R. 1628: Report on July 20 of repeal and replace legislation

Congressional Budget Office Analysis of H.R. 1628: Report on July 19 of repeal-only legislation

American Academy of Actuaries Letter to Senate: Letter on the BCRA from actuaries

Information on the House Bill

American Health Care Act: Republican bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act

AHCA Managers Amendment: Changes to AHCA as of March 24, 2017. (PDF)

Upton Amendment to AHCA: Amendment introduced by Congressman Upton (PDF)

Summary of Upton Amendment: One pager summarizing Congressman Upton's amendment to AHCA (PDF)

Congressional Research Service Report: H.R. 1628: The American Health Care Act (AHCA) (PDF)

Updated Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: Estimate from CBO of the AHCA (PDF)

Joint Committee on Taxation Estimate: Estimate from the JCT on the AHCA (PDF)

Affordable Care Act Information
ACA Legislative Language: View a copy of the entire Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act legislation.

CRS Report - Affordable Care Act Executive Order: Legal Considerations: Congressional Research Service Report on President Donald Trump's Executive Order regarding health care reform.

CRS Report - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Resources for Frequently Asked Questions: Congressional Research Service Report on Affordable Care Act.

Timeline: Repeal and Replace

10-18-17 Senate Committee Leaders Reach Health Care Deal

10-13-17 President Takes Executive Actions to Reform Health Care

09-26-17 Latest Senate GOP Health Care Reform Effort Falls Short

09-19-17 Senate GOP Continues Push on Graham Cassidy Block Grant Bill

09-13-17 Senate Republicans Introduce New Obamacare Repeal Bill

07-28-17 Senate Republican Health Care Reform Efforts Defeated

07-26-17 Update: Senate Rejects Repeal-only Health Care Reform Legislation

07-26-17 ASA Sends Additional Formal Communications to Senate Leadership as Senate Begins Consideration of Health Care Reform Proposals

07-25-17 Procedural Senate Vote on Health Care Reform Passes, Debate Begins

07-20-17 New U.S. Senate Health Reform Documents Released

07-19-17 Senate Leaders Plan Vote on ACA Repeal-Only Proposal, Vote Uncertain

06-22-17 Senate Releases Text of Health Care Reform Bill

06-13-17 ASA Shares Priorities for Health System Reform with Senate Finance Committee

05-25-17 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Releases Update on American Health Care Act

05-04-17 American Health Care Act Passes House

04-26-17 House Republicans Revive ACA Repeal and Replace Efforts

03-24-17 President Trump and House Republicans Pull American Health Care Act Before Votes

03-16-17 House Budget Committee Advances the American Health Care Act

03-14-17 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Finds Loss of Insurance Coverage under American Health Care Act

03-09-17 House Committees Advance ACA Repeal and Replace Legislation

03-06-17 House Committees Introduce ACA Repeal and Replace Legislation

02-24-17 Health Care Repeal and Replace Legislation Released

01-14-17 Congress Takes First Step to Repeal Affordable Care Act