House GOP Proposes Health Care Bill Without ACA Subsidies

House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, have unveiled a health care proposal that notably does not extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. This comes after a Senate effort to extend those subsidies failed to advance, and the House is racing against time as these subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, potentially affecting 22 million Americans facing higher premiums.

The proposed legislation, titled the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, includes provisions such as allowing small businesses to band together to purchase insurance and new transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers to lower drug costs.

However, it lacks an extension of the ACA subsidies, a point of contention among moderates in the GOP who are pushing for a vote on an amendment to extend these subsidies. Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have criticized the proposal as 'toxic legislation' that fails to address the impending healthcare crisis.

There are concerns among some Republicans that not extending the subsidies could have electoral repercussions. Despite this, the House GOP leadership is moving forward with their plan, with a vote expected next week, but the path for any amendment to extend the subsidies remains uncertain as Democrats are unlikely to support the broader GOP package.