The Trump-GOP effort to repeal and replace Obamacare is starting to come into focus and it includes a transition to the emerging system instead of an abrupt break.

Explaining an outline of the schedule, Sen. John Barrasso said the goal is "to do no harm."



The Wyoming physician-senator, said in a Senate floor speech Wednesday that the plan remains to start fresh with a plan that will expand health insurance, cut costs and let people choose their doctor.

But in the meantime, they won't be shoved off Obamacare.

"I want to make a couple of things clear. First of all, nobody is talking about taking people off of insurance without a replacement plan in place. We all understand that there needs to be a transition over time," said Barrasso, chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee.

"People have already been hurt too much when they lost their insurance and when their rates went up because of Obamacare and the mandates, and the government saying they know better than families across the country. So we'll be working to make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone," he added.

A transition period was included in a recent GOP-Congress passed bill rejected by President Obama.

And President-elect Trump's goal of helping those with pre-existing conditions, and younger Americans will be included.

"We'll be talking about ideas, ways to protect people with pre-existing conditions, and letting young people stay on their parents' insurance," he said.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com