Republican leaders' proposal would fund CSRs, eliminate ACA mandates

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) today announced an agreement on a proposal that would fund cost-sharing reduction payments to health insurers for two years and eliminate temporarily certain Affordable Care Act mandates. The leaders said the proposal would fund the CSRs through 2019. For 2018, carriers would have to meet certain conditions that would be determined in consultation with the secretaries of the departments of Health and Human Services and Treasury. The proposal also would eliminate the ACA’s individual mandate from 2017-2021; eliminate the ACA’s employer mandate from 2015-2017; and expand the use of health savings accounts. Hatch and Brady said they plan to release legislative text soon.