House Republicans say they will close a loophole in the latest GOP ACA replacement plan that would exempt legislators and their staff from some of the effects of their own plan, reported Politico.
The latest Republican health plan proposal would allow states to seek federal waivers to opt out of the ACA provision that mandates coverage for essential health benefits, which include coverage for services such as outpatient care, emergency room care, maternity care and mental healthcare, according to The Washington Post. States could also seek waivers to opt out of the ACA's community rating rule, which prohibits insurers from charging enrollees different premiums based on factors such as age, gender or health status. States that seek waivers to charge consumers higher premiums would be required to create government-subsidized high-risk pools to help make health plans more affordable for consumers.
Currently, congressional staff are required to purchase health plans through the ACA marketplaces. The exemption, offered by Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., would have provided congressional staff ACA protections that the general public wouldn't receive in states that choose to pursue waivers, according to Vox.
The House Rules Committee on Wednesday night posted the text of a one-page bill that rescinds the exemption for lawmakers, Politico reported.