Trump health chief: Officials actively ‘working on’ ObamaCare replacement plan

A top Trump health administrator on Thursday said that officials are actively “working on” a plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare, which has remained a priority for President Trump even as many congressional Republicans look to move on. 

Trump has long promised a superior plan to replace ObamaCare and has drawn pushback from Democrats for never actually revealing a plan of his own. 

{mosads}Trump said in an ABC interview in June of a replacement plan, “We’ll be announcing that in two months, maybe less.”

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma declined to give a timeline for the release of the plan when speaking to reporters on Thursday. 

But she said that administration officials are working on it.   

“Yes, we’re actively engaged in conversations and working on things,” Verma said. 

Earlier this month, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway indicated that a health care announcement could be coming in September, though she did not provide any details of what would be in it or how specific it would be. 

Officials have also emphasized other actions as making up parts of the administration’s health care plan, like moves on drug prices and increasing transparency in health care pricing. 

Trump has acknowledged that congressional action on repealing and replacing ObamaCare would have to wait until after the 2020 elections, given that Democrats currently control the House. 

But the continued push from the administration highlights the stakes of the election, given that Trump says that if Republicans keep the White House and Senate and regain the House, he would renew his push to repeal and replace the law. 

The Trump administration is also supporting a lawsuit currently making its way through the courts that seeks to overturn the entire law. 

Many congressional Republicans wish that Trump would move on, given the success Democrats had last year in running on maintaining provisions in the law like protections for people with pre-existing conditions.