Trending News Today: GOP Pursues Another ACA Repeal

An Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision may threaten access to prescription drugs for rural Americans, Kaiser Health News reported. The ACA requires rural hospitals to pay full price for drugs that are discounted for larger hospitals due to the 340B program. In some cases, the price difference could mean that the hospital cannot afford to always have the drug on hand, which could result in patient harm or even death, according to the article.

Democratic senators are now fighting against the GOP’s latest effort to repeal and replace the ACA after reports emerged that President Donald Trump and Republican leaders are seeking support for the legislation, according to The Hill. Many senators have taken to social media to call on Americans to voice their opinions to their representatives. The latest push by the GOP aims to allow states more flexibility through providing block grants instead of subsidies, according to the article.

Anthem recently reported that they will be selling ACA plans once again in Virginia for 2018, covering the only counties in the United States without plan offerings, The New York Times reported. Although last month the insurer announced its withdrawal from the state, Anthem reversed the decision after no other insurers offered plans. Major insurers—including UnitedHealth Group, Aetna, and Humana—have exited a majority of states in 2018, citing the uncertainty of the future of cost-lowering subsidies, according to the NY Times.