As has been widely reported, proponents of the American Health Care Act withdrew the bill from consideration before the full House of Representatives could vote on it last Friday. Early statements suggest there is no immediate intent to introduce a new bill to repeal, replace, or modify the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, certain measures relevant to the ACA could appear in future legislation, including proposals for comprehensive tax reform that Congress is expected to take up later in the year.

The withdrawal of the proposal leaves ACA provisions, such as the individual and employer mandates, Marketplace subsidies, and the so-called Cadillac Tax in place. In view of the new administration's stated opposition to the ACA, it remains to be seen how provisions of the ACA will be interpreted, administered, and enforced by federal agencies, in particular, the IRS, Department of Labor, and Department of Health and Human Services, on an ongoing basis. We will continue to track and report on these developments.

With the change in administrations, changes are expected for the ACA and a range of other laws and regulations affecting health care and health benefits. Ballard Spahr attorneys established the Health Care Reform Dashboard to monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory developments. We will continue to follow developments in this area as they emerge. Changes may come to the Dashboard, but it will continue to serve as an online resource center for news and analysis on developments regarding the ACA and health care reforms that follow.