Press Releases

Bucshon: CBO assessment covers only part of health care reform

March 13, 2017

By Dave Taylor

A Congressional Budget Office forecast released Monday covers only the first of three phases of a plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Rep. Larry Buchson, R-Newburgh, said in a statement.

The CBO analysis predicts that 24 million fewer Americans would have health care coverage during the coming decade but the 8th District congressman cited a section of the report attributing the increase primarily to repeal of Obamacare.

“Most of that increase would stem from repealing the penalties associated with the individual mandate,” the report said. “Some of these people would choose not to have insurance because they chose to be covered by insurance under current law only to avoid paying the penalties.”

“The CBO confirmed that the reforms in the American Health Care Act will lower patients’ premiums, repair the insurance markets to increase choice, significantly reduce the deficit, provide tax relief to families and implement real, substantial entitlement reform,” Bucshon said. “It’s never been our goal to pass a massive, 2,000-page bill. And unlike the ‘Washington knows best’ approach of Obamacare, our legislation does not force the American people to purchase bad insurance at a price they can’t afford.”

Bucshon said Republicans expected an incomplete report from the Budget Office.

“Our comprehensive approach ... will undoubtedly provide access to quality, affordable health care for every American,” he said.

In addition to the American Health Care Act, the GOP plan House Speaker Paul Ryan outlined last week includes administrative actions to stabilize the health insurance market and additional legislation, such as allowing purchase of coverage across state lines, Bucshon said.

The full article can be accessed here.