Several dozen House conservatives are drumming up support to ditch the "repeal-plus" plan for the ACA and move ahead with a repeal bill, sans replacement, Politico reported.
Here are five things to know about the emerging plan to repeal the ACA without a simultaneous replacement.
1. The House Freedom Caucus, a group of 32 far-right representatives, is leading the charge. Several members of the Republican Study Committee, a caucus with 172 members in the House, also support the standalone ACA repeal, according to the report. Politico estimated up to 50 representatives currently support the idea, and conservatives are working to drum up more support this week.
2. The group took an official position Monday to vote only for a bill if it repeals the ACA without a replacement, according to the report. They want the bill to be similar if not identical to a repeal bill passed in 2015 that was ultimately vetoed by former President Barack Obama. Those in favor of this strategy are putting pressure on Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and other leaders this week to drop their plan for a partial simultaneous replacement, according to the report.
3. The driving force behind the standalone ACA repeal is concern the GOP is losing momentum. Though conservatives do not necessarily oppose plans to replace the ACA, they are worried Congress is getting bogged down in discussion over the replacement, and eventually other issues will begin to take priority over healthcare.
4. House conservatives also expressed concerns about their peers in the Senate. Some believe senators are wary of repealing the ACA and are hiding behind the fact that there is no consensus on a replacement to delay a vote, according to the report. "My concern is [a repeal-replace bill] will give some lackadaisical Senator a reason to vote against it," Freedom Caucus member Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) said, according to Politico. "My concern is the entire repeal is in mortal danger... There may be some people who will get weak-kneed."
5. Meanwhile, GOP leaders planned to present their top replacement plan this week. Leadership will introduce their ACA replacement ideas in a series of informational sessions Tuesday and Thursday, according to Politico.
Read the full report here.
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