As the GOP's efforts to repeal and replace the ACA have stalled in the Senate, questions remain for party leaders to address if they want to move forward with potential legislation, according to The Hill.
Listed below are the five healthcare questions Republican legislators must ask themselves once they return from their August recess on September 5.
- Should Republicans make another push to repeal the ACA? Some GOP members want to move past healthcare and work on issues such as tax reform while others want to keep crafting repeal and replace legislation. Once they return from recess, they will have to form a united front to create an effective legislative agenda.
- Should any future efforts be bipartisan? GOP leadership received criticism for the unilateral nature of their healthcare proposals, and they will have to decide whether or not they want to include Democrats on the process moving forward.
- What should be done about CSRs? Many legislators have called cost-sharing reduction subsidies an essential step toward stabilizing ACA exchanges, and while Congress recently decided to fund the payments through 2017, the fate of CSRs in 2018 is still up in the air. The subsidies have received some bipartisan support, though certain conservative Republicans see them as "bailouts" for the insurance industry.
- What should be done about CHIP? Funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program is set to expire on September 30. Although the program has traditionally received bipartisan support, Republican legislators may use its funding as a vehicle to pass certain repeal measures.
- What to do about counties with no insurers on their exchanges? "Bare" counties are called out by many Republicans as a failure of the ACA, but without a replacement bill in the works, it is unclear what can be done to remedy the situation. Republicans and Democrats have both suggested temporary solutions, though no plan has received vocal support from either side.
More Articles on Leadership:
8 must-read articles for healthcare leaders this week
3 tips to help CEOs improve motivational speaking
GOP governors working with Trump to limit Medicaid beneficiaries