In response to continued opposition to the Senate health care reform bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) July 18 announced his intent to vote on an updated version of a 2015 repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act (ORRA).
However, enough Senators have announced they would oppose both the BCRA and ORRA to prevent passage of either. Despite this opposition, Leader McConnell continues to state that a vote on a motion to proceed to debate a health care reform bill will occur in the coming days or weeks. It is unclear whether the most recent version of BCRA, which has been undergoing continued revisions, or the ORRA will be the legislative vehicle brought to the floor for debate.
Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) this week issued cost estimates of both BCRA and the ORRA. The most recent version of BCRA will lead to 22 million more uninsured people by 2026. The ORRA will lead to 32 million more uninsured by 2026.
A vote on either the BCRA or the ORRA could come as early as next week.