Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
A Look At Where Lawmakers Stand: It Will Take Three Senators To Put Final Nail In Repeal Coffin
Politico: Momentum Builds For Obamacare Repeal
Three “no” votes would kill the bill, but in an encouraging sign for repeal proponents, no one is stepping forward yet to deliver that final nail. Instead, wavering senators remain on the sidelines. Conservative Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is warming to the legislation, which would turn federal health care funding into block grants for states and eliminate Obamacare’s coverage mandate, while Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is undecided. (Everett and Haberkorn, 9/18)
The Wall Street Journal: Republicans Press Graham-Cassidy Repeal Effort
Mr. Graham said Thursday that Vice President Mike Pence had called him to say the administration is “100%” on board with the bill. A White House statement earlier last week said only that the president “sincerely hoped” Messrs. Graham and Cassidy had found a solution on health care. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) also appeared to support the proposal Friday. “I appreciate Senators Graham and Cassidy continuing to work on a plan to pass the Senate. I’ll take federalism over Obamacare any day,” he said in a tweet. (Armour and Hackman, 9/18)
The Hill: Graham: Trump Trying To Sell Governors On Latest ObamaCare Repeal Plan
President Trump is calling governors to try to get their support for a last-ditch ObamaCare repeal effort taking place in the Senate, says Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). "He’s on the phone as I speak getting governors who are a little nervous about this, saying we’re not going to let you fail, we’re going to give you the flexibility over time and we’re going to empower you unlike anything you’ve ever seen," Graham told Breitbart News over the weekend. (Hellmann, 9/18)
Los Angeles Times: With A Deadline Approaching, Republicans' Last Push To Roll Back Obamacare Gains Strength
Prospects for the new repeal legislation — sponsored by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) — remain uncertain, but the proposal won an important endorsement Monday from a key Republican governor, Arizona’s Doug Ducey. That raised the possibility that the state’s senior senator, John McCain, who cast the crucial vote in July to kill the last repeal push, could back the new bill. McCain has said he would be influenced by Ducey’s position, but has also called for a less partisan, less rushed approach to healthcare legislation. (Levey, 9/18)
The Hill: Arizona Governor Backs New ObamaCare Repeal Bill
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has endorsed a new Senate Republican bill that would repeal and replace ObamaCare. Ducey, a Republican, called the legislation offered by GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (La.) "the best path forward" to gut the health-care law. (Roubein, 9/18)
Politico: McCain: I’m Not There Yet On Latest Obamacare Repeal Bill
Sen. John McCain said on Monday that he's not yet on board with his party's latest Obamacare repeal bill, airing some of the same objections that he cited when killing the last GOP push to axe the health law. "I am not supportive of the bill yet," McCain told reporters, adding that he and fellow Republicans would "talk more about it" as the clock ticks closer to the Sept. 30 deadline for the GOP to repeal Obamacare with a simple majority vote in the Senate. (Schor, 9/18)
The Hill: Paul 'Worried' New ObamaCare Repeal Bill Might Pass
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he’s worried the latest attempt to repeal ObamaCare might pass, and the unintended consequences could be severe. “There's a big groundswell of people pushing for this,” Paul told Reporters on Monday. “Two weeks ago, I’d have said zero [chance it’ll pass], but now I’m worried.” Paul has called the bill from Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) “Obamacare lite” and said he will not support it. (Weixel, 9/18)
The Hill: Collins Skeptical Of New ObamaCare Repeal Effort
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is voicing concern about the latest GOP ObamaCare repeal effort, which could potentially be moving forward without a full Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis. "That's problematic. ... That's part of the problem with short circuiting the process," Collins, one of three Republicans who voted against the Senate’s last repeal push, told reporters Monday when asked about CBO's estimate that it wouldn't know the impact on insurance coverage of a bill from GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (La.) for weeks. (Carney, 9/18)
The Hill: Murkowski Still Studying New ObamaCare Repeal Bill
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who could be the deciding vote on a new ObamaCare repeal bill, says she is still studying the measure and its effects on Alaska. "I need to figure out how all the numbers work with regards to Alaska," she told a small group of reporters Monday. (Sullivan, 9/18)
Concord (N.H.) Monitor: Sununu Praises, Then Disavows Graham-Cassidy Bill To Replace Obamacare
Gov. Chris Sununu disavowed a last-ditch federal bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act Monday, praising provisions that would introduce block-grant funds to states but distancing himself from vast Medicaid cuts included in the legislation. The bill, proposed by Republican Sens. Lindsay Graham and Bill Cassidy, would dramatically overhaul the U.S. health care system, replacing Affordable Care Act tax subsidies with a state-by-state grant system and making deep reductions to Medicaid and Medicare. (Dewitt, 9/18)
CQ: GOP Still Short Of Votes For Health Care Repeal
Some Senate Republicans are prodding their colleagues to roll back the 2010 health care law this month after abandoning the effort earlier this summer, but the caucus is still short of the votes needed to advance a bill. The latest replacement plan — rolled out last week by GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham, Bill Cassidy, Dean Heller and Ron Johnson —faces major challenges. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Monday said it would aim to offer a preliminary analysis of the draft Graham-Cassidy health care proposal by early next week. (McIntire, 9/18)
The Hill: New Ad Targets Heller On Support Of ObamaCare Repeal Bill
A new ad is targeting Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) for his support of a last-ditch ObamaCare repeal bill in the Senate. The digital ad from pro-ObamaCare group Save My Care shows the "consequences of passing ... health care repeal for people with pre-existing conditions." (Hellmann, 9/18)
