The House of Representatives has adjourned for a two-week recess without a full House vote on the Republican party’s signature legislation — the American Health Care Act (AHCA) — to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Since Republican leaders pulled the AHCA from House consideration on March 24, 2017 due to insufficient support, there have been attempts to revise the bill in a way that can muster enough votes to pass the House. Most recently, on April 6, 2017 House leaders announced an amendment that would establish a $15 billion Federal Invisible Risk Sharing Program to make payments to health insurers in the individual market to subsidize high-cost enrollees. The amendment was quickly adopted by the House Rules Committee before the House recessed. House Speaker Paul Ryan called the amendment “real progress” and suggested that the risk program provision “brings us closer to the final agreement,” but he admitted that lawmakers have “more work to do.” Republican lawmakers undoubtedly will continue to float revisions intended to change enough minds — and votes — to attempt another vote sometime after Congress reconvenes.
