Freedom Caucus supports Obamacare repeal deal while centrists waver – Washington Examiner

In a major win for GOP leadership, the leadership of the House Freedom Caucus said Wednesday that it supports a new deal to repeal Obamacare.

But support from centrist Republicans is lagging.

"While the revised version still does not fully repeal Obamacare, we are prepared to support it to keep our promise to the American people to lower healthcare costs," Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., the House Freedom Caucus chairman, said in a statement.

Meadows did not indicate whether all of the approximately three dozen members of the group would vote for the bill. The Freedom Caucus typically supports legislation only when 80 percent of its membership is behind it.

The number of Freedom Caucus lawmakers supporting the measure is critical.

Republicans will need 217 votes to pass a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, and there could be significant defections from their centrist wing.

Many members of the Republican Tuesday Group, which is comprised of centrists, left a meeting in the Capitol basement Wednesday without agreeing to support the proposal.

"The amendments that we have seen so far really don't address the concerns I have with the original replacement plan," said Rep. Dan Donovan, R-N.Y.

Donovan and other Republicans don't want insurance companies to be able to charge higher rates for older people or those with pre-existing conditions, for example.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., said his constituents would be hard hit by the changes.

"I understand Obamacare is collapsing," Diaz-Balart said. "My concern continues to be the most vulnerable and those who are 50 to 64 years old and who use Medicaid. I want to make sure their options are better."

The compromise amendment to the American Health Care Act would allow states to opt out of the requirement that insurers must cover essential health benefits such as maternity care or hospitalization. While the amendment keeps a requirement that insurers have to cover people with pre-existing conditions, it lets states apply for waivers for the price control called "community rating," which prevents insurers from charging more to people with pre-existing conditions.

The deal addresses a key concern from the Freedom Caucus, whose lack of support forced GOP leadership to scuttle a planned vote last month.

Some caucus members have said that gutting the regulations is key to lowering premiums. However, the deal is a far cry from the full repeal that members sought when the AHCA was introduced in early March.

The House Freedom Caucus support follows endorsements by conservative outside groups, including Freedomworks and Heritage Action.

"This is not full repeal and it is not what Republicans campaigned on or outlined in the Better Way agenda," Heritage Action Chief Executive Officer Michael A. Needham said. "The amendment does, however, represent important progress in what has been a disastrous process. Given the extreme divides in the Republican Party, allowing Texas and South Carolina to make different decisions on health insurance regulations than New York and New Jersey may be the only way forward."

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Freedom Caucus supports Obamacare repeal deal while centrists waver - Washington Examiner