Republicans Again Set Sights On Repealing Health Reform

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Republicans Again Set Sights On Repealing Health Reform
March 11, 2013 | By Julie Bird


Conservative Republicans are resuming their attempts to appeal the Affordable Care Act, relying this time on budget maneuvers to shut down healthcare reform, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin says his budget proposal will repeal "Obamacare," while Senate conservatives plan to delay funding for the healthcare law as part of the bill required to keep funding the government after March 27, the LA Times noted.

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is among Senate Republicans supporting the proposal, Kaiser Health News reported. Marco told radio host Hugh Hewitt he would only support the funding resolution if the ACA is defunded.


This is going to be an implementation disaster. It's going to hurt our economy severely, and we aren't spending enough time talking about that," Rubio said, according to KHN.

Ryan's attempt to repeal the healthcare law puts him at odds with party members who want to compromise with President Obama on fiscal policy now that the law has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, the LA Times noted.

Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, would reverse the planned Medicaid expansion and turn the program over to states, according to the article. He also would resurrect a plan to give vouchers to the next generation of seniors, those under 55 or 56, to pay for Medicare or private health insurance, according to the LA Times.

Meanwhile, the General Accountability Office released a report last month saying the Affordable Care Act can cut the federal deficit over the next 75 years as long as its cost-containment measures are implemented, including creating an Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) to recommend cost reductions.

To learn more:
- here's the LA Times article
- read the Kaiser Health News report

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Thank You Fierce Healthcare and Ms Bird.