Although Congress is on August recess, there is some bipartisan support to stabilize the ACA in both the Senate and the House. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, announced that his panel will work towards stabilization for 2018 when they return in September. The 23 members include several prominent Senators, including Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY).
The Problem Solvers Caucus is leading the way in the House for bipartisan solutions for the individual markets as well. The 43 member group is made up of almost equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats.
Most promising of all, the Senate and House groups have been coordinating efforts on similar quick-fix solutions that include (1) reinstating cost sharing reduction payments, (2) eliminating the medical device tax, (3) providing money and flexibility for states to further bolster their markets through reinsurance programs.
The pressure to act quickly is mounting as insurers announce 2018 rate increases as high as 40% in some states. Health policy experts and insurers have stated that rate increases would only be in the single digits in many markets were it not for the uncertainty in the government's commitment to uphold the Affordable Care Act.