House Votes to Repeal Health Care Law

On January 19, the House of Representatives voted in favor of H.R. 2, legislation to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148, P.L. 111-152) that was enacted last year. The measure to repeal passed by a vote of 245-189, with three Democrats joining Republicans in supporting the bill. Efforts to repeal the health reform law are likely to remain in the House of Representatives, with Senate Democrats and the White House opposing the measure. The House GOP leadership will continue efforts to "repeal and replace" the health care law.

House Instructs Panels to Replace Health Care Laws

On January 20, the House adopted by a vote of 253-175 a resolution (H. Res. 9) instructing four House committees to develop and report health reform legislation to replace the existing health reform law. The committees on Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Judiciary are directed to draft legislation that will lower health care premiums, increase the number of insured Americans, provide affordable coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, protect the doctor-patient relationship, and prohibit federal funding of abortion.

Physician Payment Reform in GOP Resolution

Two physician-friendly provisions were included in the H. Res. 9 overhaul of the medical malpractice liability system while the other would permanently fix the Medicare SGR problem.  The "doc fix" amendment offered by Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) passed by a vote of 428-1, added language directing the relevant committees to report legislation that would permanently change the "sustainable growth rate" formula for determining physician payment under Medicare. The most recent "doc fix" legislation passed by Congress is a one-year fix preventing reductions throughout 2011. The "Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act," Public Law 111-309, was enacted in December 2010.  While H. Res. 9 directs the four key House committees to advance legislation addressing the issues described above, it does not specify how or when committees should tackle them.  The Judiciary Committee has already held one hearing on revamping the medical liability system, and the Energy and Commerce Committee plans to move legislation allowing the purchase of health insurance across state lines.