Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
During Recess, Governors Continue To Make Pitch Against Republicans' Health Plan
The Wall Street Journal: Republican Senators Face Pushback From Governors On The Health Bill
Republican senators back home on recess this week are hearing from some influential critics of their health-law effort: GOP governors, many of whom are urging them to push back on the legislation because it would cut Medicaid funding. (Peterson and Hackman, 7/3)
Los Angeles Times: Meet The 6 Governors Leading The Charge Against The Senate Health Plan
In today’s political climate, it’s rare to find bipartisanship. But as President Trump calls on Senate Republicans to pass a bill in the coming weeks that would overhaul the Affordable Care Act, governors from both sides of the aisle are unified in opposition. (Lee, 7/2)
Politico: Nevada Governor Wields Outsize Clout In Obamacare Repeal Debate
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval may as well be the Senate’s 53rd Republican. GOP leaders are trying to win over the popular moderate and outspoken Obamacare repeal critic, believing his strong influence over Sen. Dean Heller in the health care debate could get them one vote closer to victory. (Haberkorn and Pradhan, 7/3)
The Washington Post: Ohio Gov. Kasich On Health Care: ‘Sometimes My Party Asks Too Much’
Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) lectured congressional leaders of his party on Sunday for being shortsighted, disingenuous and, ultimately, doomed to be forgotten by history if they persist with their approach to health-care legislation. “Sometimes my party asks too much,” Kasich said on ABC's “This Week,” saying he and others would not be fooled by “efforts to try to buy people off” with little fixes to the Senate bill to increase spending to combat opioid addiction or give more financial support to low-income people seeking health coverage. (Demirjian, 7/2)
Politico: Kasich: Opioid Money In Obamacare Bill 'Like Spitting In The Ocean'
An additional $45 billion to help combat opioid addiction in the Senate Republican Obamacare repeal and replacement bill isn't enough, Ohio Gov. John Kasich said Sunday. In an interview on ABC's "This Week," Kasich, who was a contender for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, called the extra money, which would be spent over a decade, "not enough" to stem the opioid crisis. (O'Brien, 7/2)
The New York Times: $45 Billion To Fight Opioid Abuse? That’s Much Too Little, Experts Say
The Senate leadership’s efforts to salvage the Republican health care bill have focused in part on adding $45 billion for states to spend on opioid addiction treatment. That is a big pot of money. But addiction specialists said it was drastically short of what would be needed to make up for the legislation’s deep cuts to Medicaid, which has provided treatment for hundreds of thousands of people caught up in a national epidemic of opioid abuse. (Goodnough, 6/30)
Indianapolis Star: Indiana GOP Asked Facebook For Obamacare Horror Stories. The Responses Were Surprising.
The Indiana Republican Party posed a question to Facebook on Monday: "What's your Obamacare horror story? Let us know." The responses were unexpected. "My sister finally has access to affordable quality care and treatment for her diabetes." "My father's small business was able to insure its employees for the first time ever. #thanksObama" "Love Obamacare!" (Martin, 7/4)
