Hatch co-sponsors legislation to delay Obamacare mandate

WASHINGTON D.C. – Sen. Orrin Hatch cosponsored legislation introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio yesterday that will delay the individual mandate under Obamacare until six months after the Government Accountability Office certifies that the exchange website is fully functional. Hatch said:

The rollout of the Obamacare exchanges has been nothing short of a disaster. Republicans have warned that the Obamacare exchanges weren’t ready for prime time, and this legislation is a common sense step forward while the mess with the exchanges is straightened out. The Administration is now saying the law’s websites won’t be ready until Thanksgiving, which means that Utah families and Americans everywhere will have only a few weeks to make an extremely complicate decision of picking the best health care plan that matches their needs. Delaying the mandate just makes sense, and if Democrats are truly interested in working to address the American people’s concerns they’ll support this bill.

The “Delay Until Fully Functional Act” would delay the Obamacare individual mandate and require that GAO study and report to Congress on the websites within 30 days. If the GAO study says the American Health Benefit Exchange is not fully functional and operating in a manner consistent with the role envisioned for exchanges under this act, GAO will do subsequent studies and reports every 60 days until the Comptroller General determines that the exchanges are fully functional. The Department of Health and Human Services inspector general would then issue a certification based on the results of the GAO report. The individual mandate would be reinstated 6 months after the HHS inspector general certification.

Resources

Full text of Senate Bill:  Delay Until Fully Functional Act of 2013 – Senate Bill introduced 20131028

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Submitted by the offices of Sen. Orrin Hatch

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

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3 Comments

  • Craig October 30, 2013 at 7:20 am

    Orrin, if you weren’t so busy writing sappy songs and talking to the rocks in your hat, you would have introduced this band aid legislation last year, after the supremes ruled on it. But no, you sat around and waited for over a year to react. You’re not proactive, you’re reactive.
    If you and any of your cronies on BOTH sides of the aisle had ANY interest in the American people, you and your cronies would have come up with a plan that is better than what we now have.
    It’s time for you to do what is best for Utah and the nation and retire.

  • Combat Vet and Democrat October 30, 2013 at 9:01 am

    I doubt if this legislation will be necessary; I’m sure that the mandate will be delayed by the administration if it is necessary. L

  • Jeremy Engdahl-Johnson October 30, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    Adverse selection may still be a challenge. More here: http://www.healthcaretownhall.com/?p=5638

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