Published On: January 13, 2017144 words0.8 min readCategories: ArticleTags:

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The Senate voted 51 to 48 early Thursday morning to approve a budget resolution that provides a blueprint for House and Senate committees to begin working on legislation that would repeal key portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The Senate action is largely procedural and lays the groundwork for a special kind of legislation called a reconciliation bill, which will be immune to Democratic filibuster. Senate Democrats staged a rare late-night protest against repealing the ACA on the Senate floor, forcing a series of votes known as a “vote-a-rama,” and expressed concern that millions of Americans are at risk of losing healthcare coverage.

The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for a vote expected to take place on Friday.

NACDS and allied associations continue to advocate for a pro-patient and pro-pharmacy approach to any related modifications to pharmacy reimbursement in government programs.