Statement on CBO Score of Health Legislation

Moments ago, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its initial score and analysis of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) – the House plan to repeal and replace much of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said the following in response:

CBO is one of this country’s most important analytical institutions, and lawmakers should take their findings seriously. While no individual or organization can perfectly predict the future, CBO has a long history of providing credible and impartial estimates based on the center of a range of likely outcomes. CBO is our nation’s fiscal referee and should be respected even if you do not like the call.

CBO’s analysis of the House health care bill estimates net deficit reduction of $337 billion over a decade. Those savings are the result of substantially less spending on coverage as well as significant tax reductions.

While it is encouraging that this legislation would significantly reduce projected budget deficits, we urge lawmakers to consider additional measures to control health care cost growth as part of any legislation. Rapid health care cost growth is one of this nation’s most significant economic and fiscal challenges, with major federal health programs consuming more than a quarter of total spending and responsible for a third of nominal spending growth over the next decade alone.

This legislation will be evaluated on many criteria – we hope lawmakers do not forget the importance of focusing on how it affects the country’s fiscal health.

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For more information contact Patrick Newton, Press Secretary, at newton@crfb.org.