Gov. Herbert says health care reform is 'absolutely a necessity'

After meeting Monday with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and numerous members of Congress, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said he feels that health care reform is not dead — and expects all sides still to seek compromise.

"I will say it is absolutely a necessity because what we have in place is not sustainable," Herbert, a Republican, told reporters in a conference call after his meetings, a few days after the House canceled a vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act because Republicans lacked enough votes to pass it.

Herbert said anyone who is honest recognizes that the Affordable Care Act "is not sustainable. We're losing providers. In Utah, for example, 13 of our 29 counties now have only one provider. The providers are leaving it. They are losing too much money under the current legislation."

He noted that the Affordable Care Act pushed by former President Barack Obama took 14 months to pass, and a GOP replacement bill has been debated for only 17 days.

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/news/5108383-155/gov-herbert-says-health-care-reform