House Passes Legislation To Strengthen the ACA

On May 16, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed omnibus legislation to bolster the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and lower prescription drug prices. The legislation, known as the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act, passed the House on a vote of 234-183. Five Republicans joined House Democrats in voting for the bill.

The Act combines four individual bills related to the ACA and three bills to lower prescription drug costs. The ACA-related components of the bill will not be new to regular readers who have watched these bills be introduced and marked up before, now, passing the entire House. The bill was also amended to require increased transparency of ACA-related activities by the Department of...