White House agrees to pay ACA subsidies
The Trump administration has told leaders in Congress that it will continue funding Affordable Care Act (ACA) cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), though it is not known for how long. This latest development could potentially defuse talk of a government shutdown.
Lawmakers are expected to pass a one-week extension of current funding levels while continuing to work on a more comprehensive deal. President Donald Trump had threatened to end CSR payments unless Democrats agreed to include funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border in any agreement.
“Our major concerns in these negotiations have been about funding for the wall and uncertainty about the CSR payments crucial to the stability of the marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act,” Pelosi said in a statement after two phone calls with White House chief of staff Reince Priebus. “We’ve now made progress on both of these fronts.”
The healthcare industry has largely opposed ending the CSRs. A letter signed by the American Medical Association and America’s Health Insurance Plans warned ending the subsidies could leave customers without any available insurers on the exchanges and increase uncompensated care costs.
Click below for more on the Trump administration's move to fund CSRs:
Nicholas joined TriMed in 2016 as the managing editor of the Chicago office. After receiving his master’s from Roosevelt University, he worked in various writing/editing roles for magazines ranging in topic from billiards to metallurgy. Currently on Chicago’s north side, Nicholas keeps busy by running, reading and talking to his two cats.