Congressional exemption from GOP healthcare plan to be addressed separately

As Republicans rush to vote on their latest ObamaCare repeal-and-replace plan, it appears to still include an item exempting members of Congress and their staffs from losing the healthcare bill’s popular provisions. 

House GOP leaders worked Wednesday night to fast-track consideration of an amended American Health Care Act without posting the bill text and without a Congressional Budget Office analysis detailing the effects of the latest changes to the legislation.

{mosads}After Vox reported that the bill appeared to still include the exemption for lawmakers, Rep. Tom MacArthur’s (R-N.J.) office said separate legislation would close that loophole.   

House rule for AHCA & Member of Congress health care waiver exemption bills were issued tonight. Both will be voted on by House Thursday. pic.twitter.com/TYWD7qO17n

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) May 4, 2017

All members of Congress and their staff are required, like every other ObamaCare enrollee, to buy coverage through the ObamaCare marketplace. 

The House Rules Committee approved procedural rules Wednesday night to fast-track consideration of both the GOP healthcare bill and the separate measure to address the potential congressional exemption.