On January 23, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy introduced his comprehensive plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, called the Patient Freedom Act of 2017. The bill became the first Republican attempt to fulfill President Donald Trump’s promise to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama’s trademark legislation.
“We have been stressing the importance of making sure we have a replacement plan ready to go with the repeal of Obamacare, in order to ensure that no one sees a gap in their health care coverage. With the introduction of the Patient Freedom Act of 2017, I believe we now have that plan,” Cassidy said in a press release. “President Trump has said that he wants to have health care coverage for all under the replacement plan. The Patient Freedom Act does this and more.”
The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Shelley Capito of West Virginia and Johnny Isakson of Georgia, would repeal Title I of the Affordable Care Act and give the states three options: reimplement Title I, including its mandates and other requirements, set up and alternative exchange with the option of continuing to receive federal funding, or design a plan without federal assistance.
“There needs to be a replacement for Obamacare that provides access to affordable, quality health care, including to those West Virginians currently receiving coverage through the exchange or Medicaid expansion. The Patient Freedom Act of 2017 accomplishes this by reducing Obamacare regulations that have caused health insurance premiums to sky rocket, returning authority to states, and providing more health care choices to individuals and families. It also keeps important protections such as coverage for pre-existing conditions, allowing dependent coverage through age 26, and retaining improvements to the federal Black Lung Benefits program, which is especially important in West Virginia,” Capito said in a press release.
Reaction to the bill has been mixed. Senate Minority LeaderChuck Schumer panned the bill, saying that millions of Americans would lose coverage, protections would be gutted and prices would skyrocket. South Corolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, an advocate of repealing the ACA, signed on to co-sponsor the bill on Jan. 30.
“Obamacare has been a disaster and Americans deserve better,” Graham said in a press release. “I look forward to repealing and replacing Obamacare. The Patient Freedom Act is a great start.”