Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., argued that the Congressional Budget Office's estimate about the number of people who would be uninsured under Republican healthcare legislation is misleading because it assumes everyone wants insurance, according to The Hill.
"I think that's kind of a bogus number. What they're basically saying is people will choose not to buy something that they don't want to buy if they don't have to buy it," Mr. Ryan said. "The government is forcing people to buy something they don't want. And so if we stop forcing people to do something they don't want to do, they won't do it."
The CBO estimated that the latest version of the Senate's Better Care Reconciliation Act would leave 22 million Americans without insurance. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., hopes to hold a vote on healthcare legislation early next week, though it is still unclear if he will propose the BCRA or a bill to repeal the ACA without replacement.
More Articles on Leadership:
Cook County Health and Hospitals CEO: Cutting 700 unfilled hospital positions is not 'realistic solution' to budget crisis
Alabama hospital's #hairraisingchallenge campaign aims to garner awareness, funds for preemies
Michael Dowling: How to gain physician trust? Get back to the basics