Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows pursues health care deal with Speaker Ryan

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — Rep. Mark Meadows intends to deliver an Obamacare repeal and replacement plan to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., on Tuesday that would leave in place the existing law's mandates for insurers to cover people with pre-existing conditions.

“What I’m getting to him is based on conversations that I’ve had with (Tuesday Group co-chairman) Tom MacArthur and leadership, but I wouldn’t say that it’s approved at this point,” Meadows, chairman of the Freedom Caucus, told USA TODAY. “What we’re trying to do is work through issues that are important to all of us but make sure that pre-existing conditions are taken care of."

Last month, an earlier version of Republican repeal legislation was pulled from the floor when it became clear that there would not be enough Republicans to support it. Meadows and the three dozen hardline conservatives he leads didn’t feel the bill went far enough. As the legislation was tugged further to the right to try to get the Freedom Caucus on board, a handful of moderates announced they could not support it.

Meadows has been in frequent conversation with Ryan, Vice President Pence and Rep. MacArthur over the past few days to come up with a consensus plan that can get enough Republican lawmakers to support the bill. He said the group is in “final negotiations.” Tuesday morning the vice president called Meadows numerous times but the congressman missed him because he was speaking to a high school civics class — the two were finally able to connect later in the afternoon.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday "we are getting closer and closer every day" to a deal on health care, and Meadows' ideas "are very helpful." But he said the issue in the end will be "figuring out whether or not those attract additional votes — gain additional support — and don't detract" by scaring off some Republican moderates. "We feel very buoyed by the direction that this is going," Spicer said.

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Just before the House broke for recess last week, Republicans came together on the one thing they could agree on — a risk-sharing amendment —designed to help states reduce premiums by reimbursing health insurance issuers for high-cost individuals.

While Republicans touted that deal as a bright spot in the negotiating process, it wasn’t enough to bring the legislation back to the floor. Meadows said his new proposal would be in addition to the risk-sharing pools.

Meadows said that if there’s consensus around this legislation — which he’s “optimistic” about —the House may cut short its recess and go back to Washington to vote.

"Member discussions continue but I have no schedule update to report," Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong told USA TODAY.

Meadows said that he talked to the members of the Freedom Caucus on Monday night and the “general consensus was that they could support something that protects pre-existing conditions and allows for the waiver.” The group has not given an official endorsement of the plan.

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