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Congress is once again scrambling as the end of the year approaches and major enhanced Obamacare subsidies are set to expire—an issue that was never truly resolved after the recent government shutdown averted a broader crisis.
This means another fight over Obamacare spending is looming on Capitol Hill.
According to Heritage Foundation health policy expert Ed Haislmaier, “What this is really about is some additional subsidies—not the basic ones, but enhanced subsidies that were put in place during COVID.”
He says these extra subsidies represent a massive burden on taxpayers, and it’s not just Republicans who think so. “Even the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget came out and said this costs $300 billion and is a complete nonstarter,” Haislmaier noted.
Regardless of whether the COVID-era subsidies are extended, Haislmaier says the Affordable Care Act still needs major reform. The good news? He believes the months-long back-and-forth on this issue may have finally generated enough attention for significant action on the ACA to be taken next year.
House Republicans are expected to produce a leadership endorsed healthcare plan some time this month, though it's unclear whether or not it will have the support needed to pass.