House healthcare bill faces upheaval in Senate

The House Republican bill repealing and replacing ObamaCare faces high procedural hurdles in the Senate that will likely force GOP negotiators to throw out key portions of the legislation.

Republicans are using special budget rules to prevent Democrats from filibustering the legislation. But the Senate has long warned the House that the rules could prohibit certain things in the bill from being included.

GOP senators have already flagged two problems: language allowing states to opt out of regulations defining what healthcare services insurers must cover, and a provision banning them from discriminating against people based on their health.

Another part of the House bill that allows health plans to charge older policyholders five times what they charge young adults — a shift from the 3-to-1 ratio mandated by ObamaCare — could also be a problem.

Language that allows insurers to place a 30 percent surcharge on people who let their coverage lapse also poses procedural problems.
The House bill also makes reforms to Medicaid, such as allowing states to impose work requirements, and caps federal payments to states. Both provisions could run afoul of Senate rules.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/332178-house-healthcare-bill-faces-upheaval-in-senate