Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Congress OKs Health Law Tweak To Ease Insurance Rules For Mid-Size Businesses
The Wall Street Journal: Bill Waiving Insurance Rules For Midsize Businesses Clears Senate
A bill waiving the federal health law’s insurance rules for tens of thousands of midsize businesses cleared the Senate Thursday in a rare example of congressional agreement to undo part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The legislation had already passed the House, and the White House appears open to signing it. ... The Senate used a fast-track process that avoided an up-or-down vote on the measure, which would free companies with 51 to 100 workers from requirements on coverage standards and pricing. ... The issue is separate from another provision in the Affordable Care Act that requires businesses with 50 or more full-time workers to offer them coverage or pay a penalty. (Radnofsky, 10/1)
The New York Times: Health Law Revision Is Approved
At issue is a provision of the health care law that expands the definition of a “small employer” to include companies with 51 to 100 employees, subjecting them to stringent insurance regulation starting Jan. 1. States have historically defined small employers as those with 50 or fewer employees. ... The bill, approved this week in the House and the Senate by voice vote, eliminates a provision of the law that would have imposed tough, potentially costly new requirements on businesses with 51 to 100 employees. (Pear, 10/1)
The Associated Press: Congress Passes Bill Easing Small Business Health Law Rules
Under current law, companies considered small businesses must offer certain required benefits. Business groups complained that increasing the number of firms classified as small businesses would increase health care costs for many employers whose benefits today are less generous. (10/1)
The Hill: Senate Sends ObamaCare Tweak To President's Desk
The White House said Thursday that Obama would sign the bill. Obama has long said that he is open to changes to the law to make it work better but that do not harm its core. (Sullivan, 10/1)
Also on Capitol Hill, interest in rolling back the health law's "Cadillac tax" is gaining momentum -
The Wall Street Journal: Foes Of Tax On ‘Cadillac’ Health Plans Gain, But Challenges Remain
There is more support than ever on Capitol Hill for rolling back the health law’s tax on high-cost employer health plans—notably from some Democrats usually opposed to paring back the law, as well as from many Republicans. But divisions among legislators still could stall efforts to tweak the tax or eliminate it completely. (Armour and Radnofsky, 10/1)
The Columbus Dispatch: Portman, Democrats Agree On Killing Obamacare ‘Cadillac Tax’
Sen. Rob Portman welcomed calls from Sen. Sherrod Brown and other Democrats to kill a tax that helps finance the 2010 health law that has extended health coverage to more than 14 million Americans. In a conference call with Ohio reporters on Thursday, Portman, R-Ohio, said that while he always has opposed the law signed by President Barack Obama, he hopes “we can make a bipartisan effort to kill the tax.” (Baedorf, 10/2)
Meanwhile, another congressional budget deadline looms -
The Wall Street Journal: Treasury’s Lew Says Congress Must Raise Debt Limit By Nov. 5
Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R., S.C.) said he had “encouraging conversations” with GOP colleagues over the past month on demanding changes to entitlement programs as part of any debt-ceiling package. “Spending for the sake of spending is going to be a real difficult vote,” he said. Still, it isn’t clear what such a package would look like, and several Senate Republicans who face close elections next year have resisted proposals for big changes to popular programs like Social Security and Medicare. (Timiraos and Peterson, 10/1)
