Health care industry groups back ObamaCare reforms proposed by Democrats

Powerful interests in the health-care industry united behind a set of proposals Wednesday that they argued would achieve universal insurance coverage, an apparent endorsement of similar plans offered by congressional Democrats and President Biden to build on the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Groups representing health insurance plans, doctors, hospitals and businesses endorsed policies favored by Democrats that would expand financial assistance to consumers to cover premium costs for ACA plans and incentivize states to expand Medicaid to more low-income adults.

Many of the proposals endorsed by the groups have already been included in COVID-19 relief bills released by House committees this week and House-passed legislation from last year to shore up the ACA.

Why it matters: These proposals would be beneficial to the health-care industry while others that are gaining steam among Democrats, like Medicare for All and a public option, are not. By endorsing policies the industry says would achieve “universal coverage,” they’re trying to steer the conversation away from other proposals they don’t support.