House Speaker Paul Ryan distanced himself from the White House's response to the Congressional Budget Office score on the American Health Care Act on Monday. While HHS Secretary Tom Price said the report, which predicts 14 million people will lose their health insurance, is "unbelievable," Ryan said other parts of the report are "encouraging."
The report validates that the GOP's health reforms will "stabilize the market and lower premiums," the speaker noted during an appearance on Fox News's "Special Report" Monday night.
As for the uninsured number, Ryan said of course the CBO will predict millions will be without insurance because their plan is not a government mandate and does not force people to buy coverage.
He expanded on these points in an official statement on Monday.
CBO report confirms it ? American Health Care Act will lower premiums & improve access to quality, affordable care. https://t.co/jNzmYFPe9H pic.twitter.com/f0NGuLiztl
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 13, 2017