Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) today introduced a budget resolution for the remainder of fiscal year 2017 that would begin the process to repeal and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act. The resolution instructs the four authorizing committees – House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce and Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions – to achieve at least $1 billion each in savings in FYs 2017 through 2026 using the budget reconciliation process. The advantage of the reconciliation process is that it requires only 51 votes for passage in the Senate rather than the usual 60 votes. All items included in reconciliation legislation must either save or spend money; overall, the legislation also must reduce the federal deficit. The resolution instructs the committees to submit their legislation to their respective Budget Committee by Jan. 27, 2017. The separate bills would then be combined for floor consideration. The budget resolution also includes the establishment of reserve funds for replacing the ACA. “These authorities permit the Budget Committee Chairs to adjust resolution figures as needed to accommodate patient-centered health care reform legislation in the future,” a press release from Sen. Enzi’s office notes. The Senate is expected to vote on the resolution next week.

Related News Articles

Headline
The departments of Health and Human Services and the Treasury today approved a Section 1332 waiver for Oregon to implement a five-year reinsurance…
Headline
President Trump today issued an executive order directing the departments of Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services to consider proposing regulations or…
Headline
The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday announced a three-tiered strategy to support hospitals in Puerto Rico following hurricanes Irma and Maria…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday announced special enrollment periods for Medicare and the federally-facilitated health insurance…
Headline
The Senate will not vote this week on a proposal by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Bill Cassidy, R-La., Dean Heller, (R-Nev., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to repeal…
Headline
The Senate will not vote this week on a proposal by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Dean Heller (R-NV) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) to repeal and…