House bill to replace Obamacare heads to Senate

WASHINGTON — After the prognosis for repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act had looked bleak for weeks, House Republicans revived the American Health Care Act and narrowly passed it on Thursday.

The AHCA, which would replace former President Obama’s signature legislation, now heads to the Senate.

The vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was 217-213, with 20 GOP lawmakers not supporting the measure. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., did not vote. U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, was among the 193 Democrats who opposed the measure.

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, supported the AHCA. Scott, who represents Georgia’s 8th Congressional District, said the GOP bill would get rid of some of the onerous provisions of the ACA and give states more flexibility.

“Over the last several years,” Scott said Thursday, “I’ve heard time and time again the negative effects the ACA has had on hard-working families, small businesses, and American health care providers, and today the House voted to roll back some of the ACA’s most straining provisions and inject much-needed competition into the marketplace.

“As this bill heads to the Senate, I look forward to continue working toward health care solutions.”

Scott said the legislation, if approved by the Senate and signed by the president, would repeal some of the ACA’s individual and employer mandates, tax increases associated with the ACA, and ACA subsidies in 2020.

The legislation, he said, would also provide tax credits for individuals and families who do not get health insurance through their employer or the government, expand Health Savings Accounts, freeze Medicaid expansion, provide protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, and give flexibility to states to meet the health care needs of their residents.