This is the week Republicans have craved for more than seven years — their chance to repeal Obamacare. Some time in the next few days the US Senate will either scrap most of Barack Obama’s signature achievement — the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Or they will abandon the effort for failure to find the votes.
Either way, America is at a fraught crossroads in its never-ending healthcare saga. If the Senate bill passes, up to 22m Americans could lose their insurance. Many more will experience a sharp reduction in healthcare support. If the vote fails, Obamacare will survive but very much as a zombie law — a stay of execution, rather than a pardon. The battle will continue. Neither outcome would be for keeps.
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https://www.ft.com/content/2d8996d8-654f-11e7-8526-7b38dcaef614
“Whatever happens, we are entering a period of deep uncertainty that will cause entirely avoidable damage to the US healthcare system,” says Douglas Elmendorf, dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard — and former head of the Congressional Budget Office. “This is a textbook example of how not to make legislation.”
Read more: Republican ‘kamikaze’ healthcare plan on life support
Either way, America is at a fraught crossroads in its never-ending healthcare saga. If the Senate bill passes, up to 22m Americans could lose their insurance. Many more will experience a sharp reduction in healthcare support. If the vote fails, Obamacare will survive but very much as a zombie law — a stay of execution, rather than a pardon. The battle will continue. Neither outcome would be for keeps.
Please use the sharing tools found via the email icon at the top of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found here.
https://www.ft.com/content/2d8996d8-654f-11e7-8526-7b38dcaef614
“Whatever happens, we are entering a period of deep uncertainty that will cause entirely avoidable damage to the US healthcare system,” says Douglas Elmendorf, dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard — and former head of the Congressional Budget Office. “This is a textbook example of how not to make legislation.”
Read more: Republican ‘kamikaze’ healthcare plan on life support
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