Senate Budget Committee approves tax bill

The Senate Budget Committee today voted 12-11 along party lines to approve the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, a bill to reform the tax code, which includes a provision to repeal enforcement of the Affordable Care Act's mandate that most individuals have health insurance. The AHA, America's Health Insurance Plans, American Academy of Family Physicians, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, American Medical Association and Federation of American Hospitals have urged congressional leaders not to include the provision, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would decrease the number of individuals with health insurance by 4 million in 2019 and 13 million by 2027. The bill also would amend the tax code to eliminate the ability of nonprofit hospitals to execute "advance refundings" of outstanding tax-exempt bonds. The full Senate is expected to begin debate on the bill later this week.