Trending News Today: CBO Finds 22 Million Would Lose Insurance Under BCRA

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently released their analysis of the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), which estimates the impact of the legislation over the next decade. The CBO found that over the next decade, the BCRA would lead to 22 million more uninsured Americans, but it would decrease federal debt by $321 billion, according to Kaiser Health News. In comparison, the House-approved healthcare reform bill would lead to 23 million more uninsured Americans and reduce the deficit by $119 billion. While Democrats remain opposed to the bill, many GOP lawmakers have expressed disappointment in the legislation after the release of the CBO analysis, Kaiser reported.

A new study reveals that adults with mental health conditions receive more than 50% of 115 million annual opioid prescriptions, Kaiser Health News reported. These findings suggest that reforming pain management approaches for this population may be a crucial part of controlling the opioid epidemic. Despite only representing 16% of the overall population, patients with mental health conditions comprise a majority of the prescriptions, which can be dangerous and lead to long-term use, according to the article.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) recently said that if the Senate bill does not pass, there are no plans to use tax reform legislation to repeal Affordable Care Act taxes, according to Reuters. This means that nearly $1 trillion in taxes will remain in place for businesses, individuals, and investments. Repealing the taxes has been a large driver of GOP healthcare reform, but without healthcare legislation, tax reform legislation would be challenging, Brady said.