The Trump administration moved one step closer to repealing and replacing ObamaCare after the House of Representatives narrowly approved a legislation to repeal key parts of the Affordable Care Act and replace them with new provisions.
The House voted 217-213 on Thursday to send the legislation to the Senate for its approval, local media reports said.
This is seen as a significant first step toward fulfilling a seven-year promise of the Republicans to repeal and replace the 2010 law that served as a landmark overhaul of the U.S. health care system.
Earlier, before the vote took place, President Donald Trump had said that Republicans will be having a big press conference at the Rose Garden of the White House immediately after vote if they win the crucial vote in the House.
"If victorious, Republicans will be having a big press conference at the beautiful Rose Garden of the White House immediately after vote!" Trump tweeted.
"Insurance companies are fleeing ObamaCare - it is dead. Our healthcare plan will lower premiums & deductibles - and be great healthcare! I am watching the Democrats trying to defend the "you can keep you doctor, you can keep your plan & premiums will go down" ObamaCare lie." Trump said in a series of tweet before the vote took place.
"Today we made history by taking the first important step toward rescuing hardworking families from the failures and skyrocketing costs of Obamacare," The Hill quoted House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) as saying in a statement.
20 Republicans supported the Democrats in voting against the bill.
The amendment is believed to restrict health insurance costs and establish minimum standards by enabling states to seek waivers from provisions.
Continuing his vociferous campaign for the GOP healthcare plan, President Trump had earlier called ObamaCare as "dead", adding that a new healthcare plan was on its way.
"You can't compare anything to ObamaCare because ObamaCare is dead. Dems want billions to go to Insurance Companies to bail out donors....New healthcare plan is on its way. Will have much lower premiums & deductibles while at the same time taking care of pre-existing conditions!" Trump had said in a series of tweets.
Trump has vowed to repeal and replace ObamaCare since the inception of his presidential campaign.
Earlier, Trump had assured that his plan will lead to cheaper premiums and "real healthcare".
"If our healthcare plan is approved, you will see real healthcare and premiums will start tumbling down. ObamaCare is in a death spiral!" Trump said in a tweet.
Asserting that ObamaCare was in serious trouble, Trump had earlier said that the healthcare programme would die if it didn't receive funds to keep it going.
"ObamaCare is in serious trouble. The Dems need big money to keep it going - otherwise it dies far sooner than anyone would have thought," Trump tweeted.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
