Sen Cassidy and Collins' Proposal Offers a Moderate "Repeal & Replace" Marker

The HIQS Group looks into the "Repeal & Replace" Marker

The “Patient Freedom Act of 2017” attracted attention yesterday as an attempt to find a middle ground on ACA repeal that might attract some Democrat votes. The proposal allows states the option to continue offering coverage on public exchanges. If states choose to drop Obamacare, the legislation would allow them to implement an alternative plan of their choice by 2019. States could adopt “passive enrollment” (similar to Medicare FFS) which automatically provides eligible individuals with a basic high deductible/catastrophic plan and a health care savings account. The proposal would eliminate the individual and employer mandates, but would also preserve popular items, including parents keeping children on their insurance until the age of 26, no discrimination against pre-existing conditions, and no annual or lifetime limits on benefits by insurers. We are encouraged that several key Senators are looking for ways to draw bipartisan support behind repeal and replace. The target group on the Democrat side is likely to be the 10 Senators up for re-election in 2018 in states that President Trump won in 2016.