A last-minute push to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and give President Donald Trump a legislative victory during his first 100 days in office collapsed late Thursday as Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives failed to garner enough votes to pass a revised measure, according to news reports.
The White House had hoped for a vote as early as Friday in the House to show that the president was making good on his promise to quickly repeal and replace the health law that represents President Barack Obama's marquee domestic achievement.
But reservations and wavering commitments to support the new bill -- particularly from moderate Republicans fearing a backlash from voters losing their health insurance -- were enough to scuttle any hopes for a quick victory for Trump last night. In an effort to placate the conservative Freedom Caucus and reduce insurance costs, the new bill would have allowed states to drop the ACA's requirement to cover a long list of "essential health services."
Another vote on healthcare was not expected this week, with at least 18 Republicans opposing the newest version of the bill known as the American Health Care Act (AHCA). No more than 22 GOP representatives can oppose the bill without killing any chance for passage, and the path through the Senate is thought to be even more perilous for advocates of the bill.
