The Senate GOP health care bill revisions are out — here's what looks different.
The new bill allots $70 billion more that's aimed at reducing out-of-pocket costs. That money, which will go toward things like cost-sharing and health savings accounts, is in addition to the $112 billion in the original bill.
Health savings accounts saw a big change. For the first time, people would be able to use their HSA to help pay for insurance premiums.
The bill would also increase the amount of money people can contribute to their HSAs annually.
Another change — people who choose plans with a low premium and high deductible, known as catastrophic plans, will be eligible for tax credits.
The bill also sets aside almost $45 billion through 2026 to help treat those with mental illness or substance abuse problems.
The new bill still eliminates the individual mandate. As for Medicaid, it keeps the block grant funding option for states and ends the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansions at the end of 2019.
The revisions are aimed at pleasing lawmakers across the board. The bill needs at least 50 votes and a vice presidential tiebreaker to pass; the last version was opposed by every Senate Democrat and even a few Senate Republicans.
The Congressional Budget Office analysis of the bill is expected to be released Monday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hopes to hold a vote sometime next week.
