Abortion Coverage Provisions Among Targets of GOP Health Reform Repeal Bill

July 9, 2012 — House Republicans last week released legislation that would repeal the federal health reform law (PL 111-148), and they plan to vote on the measure on Wednesday, The Hill's "Floor Action Blog" reports (Kasperowicz, "Floor Action Blog," The Hill, 7/6).

According to NPR's "Morning Edition," the House is expected to pass the bill, but the move would be largely symbolic because the Democrat-controlled Senate is not expected to approve it. The House vote will mark the House GOP's 31st attempt in the past 18 months to repeal, defund or dismantle the overhaul, according to "Morning Edition" (Keith, "Morning Edition," NPR, 7/9).

Details of Bill

The seven-page bill, introduced by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), charges that the health reform law has not lowered health care costs and has had negative effects on workers and the economy.

The bill also claims that the "law effectively forces millions of individuals to personally pay a separate abortion premium in violation of their sincerely held religious, ethical or moral beliefs" ("Floor Action Blog," The Hill, 7/6).

The law allows private insurers selling health plans through the health insurance exchanges to provide abortion coverage. In a restriction designed to ensure that no federal funds pay for abortion care, it requires plans that include abortion coverage to collect two separate premium payments -- one for the abortion coverage and one for the remainder of the coverage. The law also allows states to enact legislation prohibiting private insurance coverage of abortion care in their state exchange (Women's Health Policy Report, 4/11/11).