"'There are discussions around extending the subsidies, if we deal with the fraud, waste, and abuse that right now is paralyzing the system,' he replied. Oz added that there are also ways to put money 'in the pockets of Americans,' alluding to President Donald Trump's suggestion earlier that direct payments could take the place of tax credits that currently offset the cost of insurance on ACA marketplaces."
"He also said Trump's tax-and-spending package initially had provisions for cost-saving tools that would have cut premiums by 10%, but Democrats pushed to have them removed. 'So they're already ideas we've put out there,' Oz said, stressing that he is looking at ways to make the system sustainable for decades. The enhanced ACA subsidies, which were enacted during the pandemic, were the key sticking point during the government shutdown with Democrats demanding, but failing, to get them."
"House Republicans have started working on their own package that's meant to reduce costs, though it's unlikely to extend ACA subsidies, sources told CNN this past week. At the same time, the report also said the White House is ramping up a push to develop a new healthcare plan that would overhaul the ACA, which Trump tried unsuccessfully to repeal and replace in his first term."
Enhanced ACA premium subsidies may be extended if fraud, waste, and abuse that are impairing the system are addressed. Proposals include directing money to Americans through direct payments as an alternative to marketplace tax credits. Earlier tax-and-spending proposals included cost-saving tools projected to cut premiums by about 10% before those provisions were removed. The enhanced subsidies were enacted during the pandemic and became a central issue during a recent government shutdown. Off-year election losses for Republicans intensified focus on affordability, prompting separate House GOP cost-reduction plans and a White House push for a comprehensive ACA overhaul.
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