The Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act of 2017 would reduce the deficit by $3.8 billion by 2027, according to an estimate today from the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation. CBO said the bill, which Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) last week introduced with 11 Republican and 11 Democrat cosponsors, would not substantially change the number of people with health insurance coverage. The bill would provide short-term funding for the cost-sharing reductions; expand access to lower-cost, catastrophic health plans; give states additional flexibility to use 1332 waivers; provide states with outreach and education funding; and direct the Department of Health and Human Services to issue regulations facilitating the sale of insurance products across state lines. The White House announced earlier this month that it will stop making CSR payments to health insurers. CBO in August estimated that premiums for silver-level plans would be 20% higher in 2018 and 25% higher in 2026 if the CSR payments were to end. In that report, CBO also estimated not funding the CSRs would increase the federal deficit by $194 billion from 2018 through 2026. Yesterday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) announced an agreement on a separate proposal that would fund CSRs for two years and eliminate temporarily certain Affordable Care Act mandates.

Related News Articles

Headline
An analysis published Sept. 30 by KFF found that Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees who currently benefit from the enhanced premium tax credits would pay…
Headline
The AHA Sept. 29 sent recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to help ensure…
Headline
The Census Bureau reported (https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2025/demo/acsbr-024.pdf) that the uninsured rate increased nationally to 8.2% in 2024…
Perspective
Public
Congress returns to Washington, D.C., this week facing a long list of things to do, including several that will impact hospitals’ ability to provide access to…
Headline
The Department of Health and Human Services Sept. 4 announced new hardship exemption guidance that would allow consumers ineligible for premium tax credits or…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center Sept. 2 announced changes to the Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design…