Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Across The Country, Election Results Raise Questions About Future Coverage Options
Boston Globe: Mass. Seen As Insulated From A Trump Repeal Of Obamacare
Donald J. Trump’s upset win all but guarantees that big changes are ahead for health care in America. But Massachusetts’ groundbreaking reforms of a decade ago will probably shield the state from too much upheaval. ... “We are probably better insulated from any state in the country to federal changes -- not completely insulated, but better insulated -- partly because our reforms predated the Affordable Care Act, and partly because there is a political consensus in the state that our reforms are working well,” said Andrew Dreyfus, chief executive of the state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. (Dayal McCluskey, 11/9)
The Baltimore Sun: Trump Could Change Health Insurance Programs That Affect Hundreds Of Thousands Of Marylanders
The election of Donald Trump raises new uncertainty not only for the nearly 421,000 Marylanders who now have insurance under the Affordable Care Act, but also the state's unique cost-control agreement with Medicare. Under the lucrative agreement with the federal government, the state sets uniform prices for hospital care, which means Medicare pays more in Maryland than elsewhere. In exchange, the state's hospitals must keep health costs down. But they could lose millions of dollars if the agreement, which is being renegotiated now and expires in two years, went away. (McDaniels, 11/9)
The Philadelphia Inquirer/Philly.com: What Trump's Win Could Mean For Obamacare Insurance Coverage
Though President-elect Donald Trump wants Congress to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act, legal scholars say it is likely that some popular provisions of the act will remain. But the mandate that people buy insurance and the federal subsidies that offset premiums are likely "in the crosshairs," University of Pennsylvania law professor Tom Baker said Wednesday morning. Ultimately, that would means less money to pay for the popular parts of President Obama's signature health insurance program, such as the requirements that insurers cover preexisting conditions and that children be allowed to stay on their parents' policies through age 25. (Avril, 11/9)
The Texas Tribune: Trump's Win Means Uncertainty For Health Care In Texas
With Republican control of the U.S. House, Senate and White House solidified under a presumptive Donald Trump administration, the 1.2 million Texans with health insurance under President Obama’s signature Affordable Care Act face an uncertain future. (Walters, 11/9)
Chicago Tribune: Will Obamacare Health Coverage Continue Under Trump's Presidency?
Illinois consumers battered by higher health insurance prices and dwindling options in recent weeks woke up Wednesday with a new concern: Will their Obamacare coverage vanish altogether amid Donald Trump's presidency? Trump, elected president Tuesday, has promised to erase President Barack Obama's signature health care law, the Affordable Care Act. He's said he will repeal and replace it immediately, calling the law "a catastrophe." (Schencker, 11/9)
The Connecticut Mirror: With Obamacare’s Future In Doubt, Officials Urge People To Keep Signing Up
Come January, the nation will have a president and Congress that have pledged repeatedly to repeal Obamacare. But in the meantime, there’s a sign-up period going on for people to buy coverage through the insurance exchanges created by the health law. So what happens now? (Levin Becker, 11/9)
Georgia Health News: How Will A Trump Presidency Affect Health Care In Georgia?
“Obamacare is done.” That was the glum prediction late Tuesday night from Democratic political consultant James Carville, longtime ally of Hillary Clinton, as he noted the electoral math propelling Republican Donald Trump to victory in the presidential contest. ... Overall, what does the Trump victory mean for Georgia health care? It’s hard to say with any certainty. But health care experts suggest the effort to expand Georgia’s Medicaid program now faces steeper odds than ever. (Miller, 11/9)
Minnesota Public Radio: MNsure's Future Even Rockier After Election
Now that Donald Trump has won the presidency, Republican congressional leaders are making it their priority to repeal and replace the 6-year-old Affordable Care Act. That's adding to the uncertainty surrounding the future of MNsure and people who depend on the health care exchange. (Benson, 11/10)
Nashville Tennessean: Trump Win Boosts Local Banks, Hurts Nashville Health Care Companies
When it comes to the immediate impact of the presidential election on local companies and the Nashville-area economy, the fallout varied largely by sector. ... Meanwhile, a rewritten Affordable Care Act could lead to more costs falling on the shoulders of hospitals if fewer people are insured. HCA tumbled 11 percent, LifePoint Health was down 14 percent and Community Health Systems dropped 22 percent. The tumbling share prices of hospital operators do not necessarily have a direct impact on the Nashville economy, but if their employment numbers are affected by depressed earnings, then Nashville could be hurt, [Stephen Frohsin, a principal at Woodmont Investment Counsel in Nashville,] said. (McGee, 11/9)
California Healthline: California’s Torn Reaction To Obamacare’s Potential Demise
Some Californians were shocked and deeply worried. Some were confused and cautious. Others were glad to hear California’s health insurance exchange might be dismantled. Here is a smattering of reactions from around the state to the election of Donald Trump, who has vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act when he becomes president. (Gorman and Ibarra, 11/9)
Meanwhile, federal officials urged residents to go forward with enrollment in health plans for next year --
Morning Consult: White House Set To Continue Push For ACA Sign-Ups
The White House will continue encouraging people to sign up for health insurance during the ongoing open enrollment period, even with the threat of a repeal of Obamacare under President-elect Donald Trump. “This administration is going to continue to make a strong case that people should go to HealthCare.gov, consider the options that are available to them, and the vast majority who do will be able to purchase health insurance for $75 a month or less,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said at a press briefing Wednesday. “We want to make sure that as many Americans as possible understand the opportunity that’s available to them.” (McIntire, 11/9)
