Story highlights Republicans have long wanted to get rid of the essential health benefits provision

Losing the provision is key to the GOP pledge to reduce premiums and offer choice to consumers

(CNN) House GOP leaders have agreed to change an Obamacare provision that guarantees all health insurers cover services such as maternity, mental health and prescription drugs.

The dramatic shift would strike a blow at the heart of Obamacare, even while the GOP legislation says it protects coverage for pre-existing conditions.

The change came as an appeal to conservatives, after House Freedom Caucus members lobbied President Donald Trump this week to eliminate the provision, which was not mentioned in the GOP health care plan that House leaders originally floated.

Instead, Congress would leave it up to states to decide which benefits policies must contain.

The Affordable Care Act -- also known as Obamacare -- requires insurers to cover 10 "essential health benefits" in all plans sold on the individual and small group markets. It has made coverage more comprehensive and prevented insurers from selling skimpy plans that were cheap, but didn't offer many benefits -- often leaving consumers with big bills if they needed care.

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