Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has been pushing reinsurance legislation since September and expressed her disappointment March 21 that it wouldn't be included in the upcoming omnibus spending bill.
"It is extremely disappointing that Speaker Ryan chose not to include our health insurance legislation in the government funding bill due to opposition from Leader Pelosi," Ms. Collins tweeted. "This proposal — which would lower health insurance premiums by up to 40 percent — should have been included because the stakes are so high for millions of Americans whose insurance rates will skyrocket if Congress fails to act."
Congressional leadership promised Ms. Collins they would support reinsurance and cost-sharing reduction subsidies in December in return for her support of the tax bill. Ms. Collins voted for the bill, but Democrats and Republicans were not able to agree on ACA stabilization measures in the omnibus bill after Republicans included Hyde Amendment language.
The language restricts insurers that provide abortion coverage from receiving federal funds. Democrats have strongly opposed the restrictions, and ACA stabilization provisions were not included in the bill.
"The Omnibus is the last opportunity to prevent these rate increases from taking effect and to help stabilize the market," Ms. Collins added.
However, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pushed back against Ms. Collins' criticism of her stance against the Hyde Amendment.
"Republicans were repeatedly told that Democrats would not support expanding Hyde," said Henry Connelly, a spokesperson for Ms. Pelosi, according to The Hill. "We believe Senator Collins is familiar with her party's continuing obsession with trying to undermine Roe v Wade."