Conservatives have been emphatic that any GOP health care bill address the costs of premiums, taking a hard line that the legislation should eliminate definitions of essential health benefits and repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act that describe qualified health plans. Experts don’t believe eliminating essential health benefits ― which mandate that things like maternity care and lab services ― would do much to lower premiums. Moreover, some Freedom Caucus members have been clear that just changing the coverage portions of the bill wouldn’t win their votes. It’s possible, then, that leadership would agree to changes that some Freedom Caucus members could still vote against. Making changes the Freedom Caucus wants is a gamble; doing nothing is a sure path to failure.

Source: Huffington Post March 22, 2017 21:27 UTC