Posted by Kristin Oberlander - Republicans are in the process of introducing two bills to "repeal and replace" both the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (health reform laws).
Several House committees have been instructed to start work on new language for replacement health reform bills. The House Committee on Rules has already posted a repeal of the laws.
The second bill will be composed of recommendations from four House committees (Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Judiciary and Ways and Means) that include popular provisions in the current health law. These include a market-based coverage system, coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, reexamining the medical liability system and increasing the number of Americans who are insured, all to be completed without raising taxes or affecting Medicare.
The committees will also work to prohibit taxpayer-funded abortions, provide states with more flexibility in administering Medicaid and reduce spending.
The process is considered largely symbolic, since the Democrats still have control of the Senate and have vowed to combat repeal and reform measures.