The House of Representatives on Wednesday evening passed a GOP-sponsored health care reform bill that doesn’t extend expiring enhanced ACA subsidies but provides other measures Republicans say will benefit consumers.
The bill, The Lower Health Care Premium for All Americans Act, passed along party lines, 216-211. The sole Republican joining Democrats was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).
The legislation allow employers to work with others across industries to purchase group health plans together and mandates greater transparency from pharmacy benefit managers, the so-called “drug middlemen.”
It would also provide funding for cost sharing reduction starting in 2027.
The Senate, however, is not expected to take up the House legislation. That body rejected a Democratic bill to extend enhanced subsidies on Dec. 11. Also, other health care legislation is being floated in the Senate.
The passage of the House bill came after four moderate Republican congressmen Wednesday morning joined Democrats to advance a discharge petition for an ACA subsidies extension vote.
