Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said he anticipates the Congressional Budget Office will still release a full score of the proposed healthcare bill he co-sponsored, according to Roll Call.
Mr. Cassidy told the publication he believes a full CBO score could help garner more support for the bill.
"Even that will take some understanding," he said. "We just need to socialize it. So again when folks say something ridiculous, that that is recognized as being ridiculous."
In the report, Mr. Cassidy specifically referenced claims that Medicaid would be exceedingly cut under the legislation.
The CBO released a preliminary analysis of the Graham-Cassidy bill last month. That analysis estimated decreased Medicaid enrollment due to federal funding cuts and decreased enrollment in individual coverage due to reductions in subsidies. The CBO also said all health insurance enrollment is projected to decline under the Graham-Cassidy proposal. But the scoring agency added coverage losses "would be partly offset by enrollment in new programs established by states using the block grants and by somewhat higher enrollment in employment-based insurance. Many of the new programs would probably cover people with characteristics similar to those of people made eligible for Medicaid by the ACA."
The Senate did not vote on the Graham-Cassidy proposal before budget reconciliation rules expired Sept. 30 due to lack of support. However, sponsors of the bill have indicated they believe the bill can pass through the regular legislative order process.