Freedom Caucus Closing In On Deal To Rewrite Health Care Bill At 11th Hour

[brooklynite]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON ― Just hours before an expected Thursday vote in the House, congressional Republicans are considering massive changes to insurance coverage without even a basic idea of what those changes would mean.

According to House Freedom Caucus members, the conservative group is negotiating directly with President Donald Trump and the White House on an amendment to the Republican health care bill, seemingly cutting out GOP leadership from the conversation as Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and his deputies work to corral votes for a bill that is, in these latest provisions, a mystery even to them.

The re-opening of negotiations is an admission of what has been clear all along ― that the bill as constructed by Ryan does not have the votes to pass on Thursday. It also represents a major reorganization of a significant chunk of the American economy in a matter of hours.

Conservatives are using their considerable leverage on the measure ― the Freedom Caucus has demonstrated it has the votes to sink the legislation ― to extract concessions on the Essential Health Benefits section of the bill, which mandates that insurers offer plans covering 10 services: outpatient care, emergency room visits, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and addiction treatment, prescription drugs, rehabilitative services, lab services, preventive care and pediatric services.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/freedom-caucus-wins-major-rewrite-of-health-care-bill-at-11th-hour_us_58d31ae2e4b0b22b0d19c317

[Marie Marie]

1. Oh this is gonna be good.

How to make a sucky bill even suckier.

[Grizzled Ol Granddad]

20. Healthcare for Whites Only?

And even then, straight white males? Since I meet both criteria, I guess I should be thrilled, huh?

[briv1016]

21. You forgot that you must also have an annual income over $250,000.

[cstanleytech]

22. "And even then, straight white males?" Ah, you forgot something as it will probably be

"And even then, straight white rich Repugnant registered only males?"

[Grizzled Ol Granddad]

27. The GOP Might Make a Deal That Would Screw the Sick While Letting Insurers Scam Taxpayers

From Slate:

March 23 2017 12:21 AM

This is nuts. Straight. Up. Nuts.

Right now, Republicans are negotiating a last-minute deal to save their health care bill before Thursday's vote in the House that, were it to actually become law, could have massive repercussions for the entire U.S. health care system. It would simultaneously be an enormous blow to the sick and a boondoggle for taxpayers that would turn the entire individual insurance market into an opportunity for insurers to skim money from the government by selling junk coverage.

I really, really wish I was exaggerating. But no.

According to multiple reports, the White House is trying to win over votes from the archconservative Freedom Caucus by adding an amendment to its health care bill that would kill off Obamacare's “essential health benefits” rules. Those regulations require insurers to cover 10 different areas of care—things such as hospital and outpatient services, prescription drugs, and mental health and maternity care. Liberals like the rules because, among other things, they ensure that when people pay for coverage, they get something of value. (Back in the pre-Obamacare days, people often bought cheap coverage, only to discover it was worthless once their hospital bills arrived.) Republicans dislike the essential benefits, however, because they make coverage more expensive. Which is true. When insurers actually have to cover stuff, it costs more.

Getting rid of the regulations has been at the top of the Freedom Caucus' wish list, because it would allow premiums to drop for people who don't need much in the way of actual benefits. Unfortunately, it would also turn the insurance market into a massive exercise in graft by allowing insurers to game the living hell out of the subsidy system that Republicans are presently setting up.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2017/03/23/republicans_may_eliminate_obamacare_s_essential_health_benefits.html

"Freedom Caucus." And we all know whose freedom they're working for!

[sharp_stick]

2. It's likely dead in the Senate

no matter what, just another waste of time.

[BainsBane]

3. That's one way to prove they haven't got the first clue how to govern.

[MADem]

4. Have you seen what the Koch Bros. are up to? Enemy of my enemy, and all that....

They don't wish Obamacare well, but they're no fans of Trumpcare either.

Grab the popcorn....


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/seven-figure-fund-promised-for-lawmakers-who-vote-against-gop-health-care-bill/

Two major conservative outside groups are promising to support lawmakers who vote against the GOP’s health care overhaul.

Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Partners, which are both backed by the billionaire Koch brothers, are putting together a seven-figure fund that will go toward activity including paid media and direct mail for Republicans who vote against the bill. The legislation, formally known as the American Health Care Act, has been widely derided by conservatives both within and without Congress.

“The bill as it stands today is Obamacare 2.0,” said James Davis, executive vice president of Freedom Partners, in a Tuesday press release. “Republicans have been promising to fully repeal Obamacare since it became law. This bill doesn’t do that. We will stand with lawmakers who keep their promise and oppose this legislation – and work toward a solution that reduces costs and provides Americans with the relief they need and deserve.”

The release goes on to say that Americans for Prosperity “has already begun a digital campaign thanking lawmakers who have come out publicly against the flawed legislation.”

The House is expected to vote on the health care bill on Thursday. Dozens of Republican lawmakers have come forward with concerns about the bill, which many do not feel goes far enough in repealing Obamacare. With Democrats unanimous in their opposition to the legislation, the GOP leadership, which supports the bill, can only afford to lose 21 Republicans when the vote takes place.

CBS News’ Steve Chaggaris contributed reporting to this story.

[catbyte]

6. Not really, at least in the House. It sounds like 45* is negoatiating with the baggers to screw

us out of health care which is even worse than Trumpcare, which is why the Kochs support the freedom Caucus. If this travesty passes the Senate, goodbye health care. What a goddamn clusterfuck.

[brooklynite]

8. Trump doesn't care what the Bill does...

...he just cares about "winning" his first Congressional vote.

[LuckyLib]

16. This is it. It has nothing to do with substance and everything to do with winning. They are

throwing stuff at the walls now. Love to see it all go down in flames.

[MADem]

10. The Koch's are saying if you vote AGAINST Trumpcare, we'll donate "bigly" to your campaign.

That offer is to GOP candidates, not Dems, of course, who don't need any inducements to run from that stinker.

The Koch crew are on the opposite side from Trump, who would be breaking a campaign promise if he went along with them (Trump claimed his would be "better" -- the BEST, in fact....Koch wants to kill the thing).

Thing is, the more monstrous they try to make this, in order to get it past the House, the less likely the Senate is to go along. They're not quite so stupid, nor do they have elections every two years to deal with.

[catbyte]

11. Sorry, that's what I meant, but I was very unarticulate, duh. If 45* is negotiating w/baggers to

kill the AHCA as is & put in all the things that the baggers want, then we are back to pre-ACA, and millions of Americans screwed. I shouldn't have called it Trumpcare because he threw it under the bus the minute baggers balked--AHCA is Ryancare now. Sorry for the confusion.

I hope it's such a colossal clusterfuck that the Senate votes it down, but I don't trust them either. I'm too cynical these days for my own good.

[cstanleytech]

23. They arent fans of Trumpcare because it doesnt hurt enough people, if it hurt everyone that was not

wealthy and a registered Repugnant they would be backing it fully.

[catbyte]

5. Great. They're dragging us back to the days of worthless junk plans. Fucking awesome.

[pangaia]

7. What about chemo, specialists, PCP's, surgery, in patient, ambulance, ....etc etc...?

[Javaman]

9. Oh right as if the freedom caucus...

Will make it better. That's a laugh.

If anything, they will make it colossally worse.

doubling down on stupidity is never a good plan

[NCjack]

17. The bill has balloon properties. When it is squeezed at one location,

it expands in another place. Votes gained by squeezing are off-set by votes by the bulge. They have reached a stalemate, and it is short of enough votes to pass the bill.

[Cosmocat]

31. IDK

I think the sane side of the balloon is a lot smaller than the hateful asshole side of the balloon, in the House at least.

[Skittles]

12. STICK A FORK IN IT

I tell you if repukes fail to goose-step in the last hour, it will be PARTY TME

[RainAndMoreRain]

13. They Want The Bill To Hurt More Poor People That Is Why Their Name Is Freedom

They want the corporations to be freer to rob and kill our families for profit.

[TexasBushwhacker]

24. Not just poor people

Who can pay for surgery out of pocket? I guess they want people to pay for supplementary insurance that covers things their shitty insurance doesn't.

[haele]

28. Most HSAs have an annual tax-free cap.

Similar to a Roth account, it can only fund it so much every year before the IRS requires the fund manager to start treating any interest accrued on the over-funding as taxable; because I'm over 55 and have one dependent on my insurance, my current HSA allows me to add only $6550 a year to the account "tax free". The same HSA only allows singles under 55 to add $3K a year, and head of household/married under 55 to add $5550 a year.

With substandard health insurance, can you afford an emergency room visit - or even plan for treatment of a chronic or congenital health issue out of pocket if you can only put in $5K or so a year - even if you never touch your HSA for a decade except for a few doctor's visits early on for maybe a kid's immunizations or an annual dental cleaning and check-up for everyone in your family?

It would take at least 30 years for a single person maxing out payments to an HSA to pay for one surgery or a year's course of treatment later on for a geriatric condition.
Looking at the bills for my latest grandchild, it would take at least five years of max payments allowed on an under-55 with dependents HSA account to pay for a "normal/no problems" pregnancy, including all pre-natal care, the birth, and one year of post-natal care for both mother and child.
The only other option would be to go back to the 1900's era pregnancies - Mom is on her own. Or make enough money in the household so someone's income can go straight into a CD or money market that can be set aside for "emergency medical funding" - on top of the expected retirement investments - or that might later used to pay for end of life/long term care once retirement kicks in.

This "Health Insurance" plan is a joke. From what I've read, it even dis-incentivizes employer health benefits plans.
Only the top 2% - 5% will ever be able to afford access to quality health insurance, not to mention quality health care under this plan. The rest of us have to hope whatever we can afford to choose won't end up bankrupt or kill us too quickly...

Haele

[PA Democrat]

14. Wow. There you go Trump voters.

You will have the "choice" to buy insurance plans that are "great" until you need to use them and find out they don't cover anything.

[Brother Buzz]

15. This time for sure

[SCVDem]

18. I want my health care thrown together

with little thought or compassion in the same time it takes to make a pizza!

What the hell is wrong with these pricks?

It is time for torches and pitchforks!

[Stonepounder]

19. With luck, the so-called Freedom Caucus will screw up the bill do badly

that the moderates won't be able to support it. So, they get the far right on board but lose the remaining sane GOP members. And even if they do pass this complete piece of crap (with no budget scoring or having any idea how people would think about it), it might not even get out of Committee in the Senate.

[angrychair]

25. Riddle me this Batman

If health insurance does not do this:

Essential Health Benefits section of the bill, which mandates that insurers offer plans covering 10 services: outpatient care, emergency room visits, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and addiction treatment, prescription drugs, rehabilitative services, lab services, preventive care and pediatric services.

Is it even "healthcare" anymore? What the hell is the point?!?

[Wellstone ruled]

26. What appears to be going on here is,

yes this bull crap about 10 features to be kept,but at what price. Anyone can buy some POS Policy that is dirt cheap,but,the thing has some type of deductible from hell.

What Trump wants is a 31 billion dollar Tax Break for the 400 wealthiest families who donated to the GOP in the last Election Cycle.

They never had a plan for the American Public,only a method of Wealth Transfer from the Treasury to the Wealthiest people.


When in hell are people going to wake up.

[FakeNoose]

29. They can't rewrite it - they're voting on it today

Just how "last minute" can they get?

Oh here, just vote yes for now, and we'll write the bill later on, when we get the time.
Maybe you'll really like it.

[Sunlei]

30. Republicans allow some POLITICAL CHARITY to help Insurance Corporations screw Americans?

TWEAK ACA, DON'T PLAGIARIZE AND REMOVE THE REGULATIONS PROTECTING AMERICAN CONSUMERS FROM "For profit"-INSURANCE CORPORATIONS.

[KewlKat]

32. guess they don't care about having CBO score it w/changes