AHCA Update

The Washington Examiner reports that the Senate Republican majority is working on its own repeal and replace bill that may incorporate parts of the American Health Care Act bill that the House passed this afternoon.  A 12 member work group including members of the three Senate Committees with jurisdiction over healthcare are leading the drafting effort. The group has been meeting for a few weeks and its work has been spurred by the House action. The Wall Street Journal offered a concurring report this evening.

According to the Journal and this comes as no surprise, the Senate will work at its own pace. Of course, both the House and the Senate ultimately must agree to the same bill language in order for the bill to become law. Frequently, a conference committee of the two bodies can resolve disputes on sticky legislation like this in order to push the bill over the finish line. But the Senate has to act next.