WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump’s last-minute push to repeal the Affordable Care Act propelled the effort over its first hurdle Friday morning, with the House passing a procedural measure that clears the way for a final vote in the afternoon. A four-page amendment to the American Health Care Act appeased conservatives by ending Obamacare’s nationwide guarantee of essential health benefits in insurance plans, such as mental illness coverage and maternity care. Most health care policy groups and experts have been highly critical of the AHCA. “It will be devastating for millions and millions of Americans.”Still, the Republican push prevailed as GOP lawmakers repeated their well-worn complains about the Affordable Care Act. “Our health care system today is broken and only getting worse under the current law known as the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare,” Sessions said.

Source: Huffington Post March 24, 2017 15:10 UTC