Key takeaways

• The Better Care Act, unveiled by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell last Thursday, if enacted, would have a significant impact on every subsector of the healthcare industry. Some of these changes would not take place for several years—most significantly cutbacks in the growth rate of the Medicaid program—and these cutbacks might be repealed by a future Congress.
• The Better Care Act includes provisions that would be favorable to insurers, and it would repeal taxes on the medical device and pharmaceutical industries. The bill would harm providers (both hospitals and physicians), pharmaceutical companies and the medical device industries to the extent the bill would result in more people who would be uninsured or covered by thin plans that left them unable to afford healthcare expenses.