On Thursday, seven years after the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Senate Republican leadership unveiled a draft to overhaul the ACA.  The draft language was the first look at the direction Senate leadership hopes to take health care reform as the bill was mostly drafted behind closed doors.  

The bill would make major changes to the Medicaid program and would repeal the current requirement for people to buy insurance or face a yearly fine.  The bill would also maintain the ACA pre-existing conditions requirements for insurance companies, among other provisions included in the legislation.  The House has already passed the House Republicans’ version of a comprehensive healthcare bill, the American Health Care Act (AHCA).  The Senate could consider the Senate health care repeal and replace bill as soon as next week.