We begin today’s roundup with Paul Krugman’s analysis of the latest attempt to dismantle the Affordable Care Act:
Again and again, we read news reports to the effect that Republicans are closing in on a plan that will break the political deadlock. They’ll repeal the Obamacare taxes and block-grant Medicaid! No, they’ll make insurance cheaper by eliminating the coverage requirements! Or, the latest idea being floated, they’ll let insurance companies raise premiums on people with pre-existing conditions and compensate by creating special high-risk pools!
And each time the plan turns out to have a fatal flaw. Millions will lose coverage; or they’ll keep coverage, but it will become so threadbare it’s almost worthless; or premiums will skyrocket for the most needy unless vast sums — hundreds of billions of dollars — are devoted to those high-risk pools. [...]
And because the task Republicans have set for themselves is basically impossible, their ongoing debacle over health care isn’t about political tactics or leadership. Even if Donald Trump were the great deal maker he claims to be, or Paul Ryan the policy wonk he poses as, this thing just can’t work.
Eugene Robinson dives into what makes this plan even worse than the last one:
House Republicans are apparently ready for yet another attempt to snatch health insurance away from constituents who need it. Someone should remind Speaker Paul Ryan of a saying often attributed to his legendary predecessor Sam Rayburn: “There’s no education in the second kick of the mule.” [...]
The new proposal — brokered by Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.), of the moderate Tuesday Group, and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), of the far-right Freedom Caucus — is like a parody, as if life-or-death access to health care were fodder for a “Saturday Night Live” sketch. [...]
We would go back to the pre-ACA situation in which serious illness could mean losing a home or filing for bankruptcy.
This may satisfy GOP ideological imperatives — Ayn Rand would be so proud — but it is atrocious policy, even if you put aside considerations such as compassion and community.
Jeff Spross at The Week:
First off, here's what hasn't changed: As far as I can tell, the new proposal would still massively cut Medicaid. It would also offer the same inadequate subsidies — which were much lower than ObamaCare's already-underpowered subsidies — to help customers on the insurance exchanges afford their premiums.
The new twist is that states can opt out of two key ObamaCare regulations: The essential health benefits, and the law against charging people different premiums based on pre-existing conditions.
Jennifer Rubin points out the new plan is essentially still a big tax cut for the rich:
The GOP 2.0 version of the American Health Care Act has about as much appeal as the original AHCA, or maybe less. It’s still a big tax cut for the rich, a hit to pocketbooks of older and more rural voters, and less generous than what recipients had received under Obamacare. Would a moderate in a district Hillary Clinton carried overwhelmingly go for this? It’d be a high-risk proposition. Would a conservative who sees more regulation (the essential benefits) going back into the deal be thrilled? Probably not. Moreover, it’s clear the Senate would reject the bill, because moderates previously said they’d refuse to go along with a Medicaid rollback.
GQ’s Jack Moore:
This is a shameless attempt not to just trick you. This isn't only a compromise that desires to create a health care system that helps Americans, but rather a compromise that they're hoping creates just enough political cover to get a bill passed. What good are Essential Health Benefits if states can just waive them by claiming "another benefit of public interest in the state"? What good are pre-existing condition protections if states can waive them in favor of high-risk pools that would send premiums for those with pre-existing conditions skyrocketing? This is the House GOP trying to play three-card monty with your health and it's dangerous.
And on a final note, Asawin Suebsaeng at The Daily Beast has this insider take:
House Republican aides involved with the process who spoke with The Daily Beast on Thursday afternoon universally expressed moderate skepticism at best, and brutal outlook at worst, at the idea that a floor vote would possibly happen by Wednesday of next week. One senior GOP aide simply responded with a series of laughing-crying emojis.