A split-decision in President Donald Trump's administration on allowing partial Medicare expansion caused the president to delay taking any action until after the midterm elections, the New York Times reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. The administration was weighing whether to allow states to partially expand their Medicare programs.
2. HHS Secretary Alex Azar, CMS Administrator Seema Verma and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Andrew Bremberg were all in favor of expansion. White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Economic Advisers Council Chairman Kevin Hassett and National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow were all opposed.
3. President Trump is opposed to expanding the ACA in any form.
4. If the policy is passed, HHS would offer waivers to states to run their own healthcare programs with federal money available through the ACA.
5. By allowing for partial expansion, states would lower their uninsured rates further.
6. The administration surveyed Republican legislators who were supportive of the idea but urged the administration to wait until after the midterm elections to vote on the issue. Legislators were fearful that if the bill was seen as an ACA expansion they'd have to vote against it.