After criticizing Democrats for using "budget gimmicks" and a lack of transparency when passing the ACA, Republicans are downplaying the American Health Care Act's projected price tag and coverage loss estimates, Politico reports.
Here's what you should know.
1. Anticipating negative projections from the Congressional Budget Office, Republican legislators are preemptively criticizing projections, and releasing their own estimates in some cases.
2. Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., downplayed the CBO's estimates on the ACA in a March 7, 2017, press conference. The office projected nearly 21 million would earn coverage, while in actuality, the ACA only covered 10 million.
3. Republican senators expect the Office of Management and Budget, part of the Trump administration, to issue its own cost estimates of the plan.
4. Several Republicans have criticized the CBO's 2010 ACA estimates, acknowledging the independent office's estimates are a government standard.
5. The CBO said it expects to release AHCA estimates next week.
6. Politico analysts believe the AHCA is "all but certain to show that the Republican plan covers fewer Americans than Obamacare does."
7. HHS Secretary Tom Price said the plan's goal is to "have a bill that doesn't increase costs to the federal government."