{"id":20989,"date":"2019-09-03T09:00:18","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T09:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/2019\/09\/03\/what-would-trumpcare-look-like-follow-gops-choice-and-competition-clues\/"},"modified":"2019-09-03T09:00:18","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T09:00:18","slug":"what-would-trumpcare-look-like-follow-gops-choice-and-competition-clues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/what-would-trumpcare-look-like-follow-gops-choice-and-competition-clues\/","title":{"rendered":"What Would Trumpcare Look Like? Follow GOP’s ‘Choice And Competition’ Clues"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Julie Appleby<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

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\n President Donald Trump talked about expanding health coverage options for small businesses in in a Rose Garden gathering at the White House in June.<\/p>\n

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Al Drago\/Bloomberg\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Al Drago\/Bloomberg\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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While many Capitol Hill Republicans would like to avoid another public debate about whether to repeal the Affordable Care Act, President Donald Trump and his appointees keep bringing it up \u2014 promising their own health plan that would be “phenomenal<\/a>” and make the GOP “the party of health care<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

“We’re actively engaged in conversations” on what to do, Medicare chief Seema Verma said<\/a> last month. And Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway has indicated a health care announcement might come in September.<\/p>\n

Behind the pronouncements lies a dilemma: whether or not to stray beyond efforts underway to improve the nation’s health care system \u2014 loosening insurance regulations, talking about drug prices and expanding tax-free health savings accounts \u2014 to develop an overarching plan.<\/p>\n

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For the White House, it’s a fraught decision.<\/p>\n

A comprehensive plan could serve as a lightning rod for opponents. Conversely, not having a plan for replacing some of the most popular parts of Obamacare \u2014 such as its coverage protections for people with preexisting medical conditions \u2014 could leave the GOP flat-footed if an administration-supported lawsuit now before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals<\/a> were to invalidate the sweeping health law.<\/p>\n

“This is a real conundrum,” says Dean Rosen, a Washington, D.C., health policy consultant who often advises Republicans. “There is a risk with action or inaction.”<\/p>\n

No matter how the 5th Circuit rules, its decision, which could come soon, is likely to be stayed while the issue heads to the Supreme Court. Such a delay would give the Trump administration time to flesh out a proposal if the appeals judges throw out the ACA. But it would also ensure that a health care debate is front and center during the presidential campaign.<\/p>\n