This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
US President Donald Trump's latest bid to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has suffered a significant setback with the defection of key Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Collins, who had been wavering on the issue, announced her opposition to the plan on Monday, joining Senators John McCain and Rand Paul in voting against the legislation.
The plan, which would replace the ACA with a system of block grants to states, had been backed by Trump and Republican leaders, who had hoped to pass it before a September 30 deadline.
However, Collins' opposition, along with McCain and Paul, has essentially sunk the Republican effort, which had gained steam in the two weeks since Senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy unveiled their new plan.
The bill would have made sweeping changes and cuts to Medicaid, with experts projecting a staggering $1 trillion plus in cuts between 2020 and 2036 to the federal health program for the poor and the disabled.
Collins criticized the plan, saying it would have a devastating impact on a program that has been on the books for 50 years and provides health care to vulnerable citizens.
"This is simply not the way that we should be approaching an important and complex issue that must be handled thoughtfully and fairly for all Americans," Collins said in a statement announcing her opposition.
The Congressional Budget Office had also projected that the plan would result in millions fewer people with comprehensive health insurance that covers high-cost medical events.
Republicans hold 52 seats in the 100-member Senate and can afford just two defectors, making Collins' opposition a significant blow to the plan.
