Comparing Key Provisions: Affordable Care Act, American Health Care Act, and the Graham-Cassidy Proposal
In July 2017, the United States Senate rejected a series of proposals to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). On September 13, 2017, Senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy introduced a new proposal to repeal and replace the ACA.
The Graham-Cassidy proposal retains some similarities to the American Health Care Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2017, but includes some notable differences. This brief compares key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, American Health Care Act, and the Graham-Cassidy proposal.
The Senate has until September 30, 2017 to pass a repeal and replace package under the Fiscal Year 2017 budget reconciliation process, which requires a simple majority for passage. After the end of FY 2017, any repeal and replace legislation would most likely require 60 votes for passage. It is possible that budget reconciliation, requiring a simple majority for passage, could be used for repeal and replace legislation in FY 2018 if it is not used for other issues.
On Sept. 25, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a preliminary report on a version of the Graham-Cassidy proposal summarized in this brief. The CBO concluded that the bill would save at least $133 billion. However, it would result in millions of people losing health insurance. Additional, detailed analyses may be forthcoming.