GOP leaders push Obama on pre-existing conditions plan

House GOP leaders asked President Obama Tuesday to make funds available in support of a temporary insurance plan for people with pre-existing conditions.

The plan, known as PCIP, has struggled to get off the ground since it was enacted as part of the healthcare law. Last month, the Obama administration announced that it would close enrollment due to concerns that the program would be too costly.

On Tuesday, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and six of his deputies asked Obama to transfer money to the PCIP from other accounts established by the law, such as the Prevention and Public Health Fund or the fund for state insurance marketplaces. 

"Republicans have historically supported high-risk pools and reinsurance programs," the lawmakers wrote. "We believe allowing those with pre-existing conditions access to health insurance is another worthy reason to reprogram these funds."

The PCIP is designed to offer insurance to vulnerable patients while the rest of the law's provisions, including a ban on discrimination against pre-existing conditions, kick in next year.

To qualify, patients had to be without coverage for at least six months.

Tuesday's letter is notable given Republicans' staunch opposition to healthcare reform and their more than 30 attempts to repeal, defund or dismantle it.

Since the election, GOP lawmakers have stepped back from those efforts. The proposed continuing resolution to fund the government maintains money for the healthcare law, for example.

The letter stated that the House GOP remains fully committed to repealing the Affordable Care Act, saying the law is "driving up healthcare costs and making it harder for small businesses to create jobs."

"But," the members wrote, "our disagreement on the broader issues of the law should not preclude us from working together to take this specific action."

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