Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Entitlement Spending, Medicare Policies, Health Law Issues Emerge As Hot Topics On Campaign Trail
Los Angeles Times: 2016 Election Pits Desire For Change Against A Demographic Shift
Obama came into office with hopes of leading the country toward a new acceptance of activist government. Some Democrats hoped, for example, that successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act would cause Americans to warm toward the expanded government role in guaranteeing health coverage it represents. Obamacare by now has helped more than 20 million Americans get insured, the biggest increase in coverage in half a century. Contrary to dire warnings from the law's opponents, healthcare costs have not shot upward — the rate of healthcare inflation is the lowest in years — the job market has improved and the cost to the federal government is below forecasts. (Lauter, 4/19)
CNN: GOP Presidential Contenders Talk Entitlement Reform
Leading Republican presidential contenders aren't shying away from proposals to overhaul Social Security and Medicare—once considered untouchable third rails of American politics. Chris Christie, Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush all told audiences at the Republican Leadership Summit in New Hampshire this week that the United States must rein in spending on those programs, largely by raising the minimum age of eligibility. (Bradner, 4/18)
CBS News: Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee Weigh In On Entitlement Reform
Two potential Republican presidential candidates on Friday offered decidedly different views on whether the federal government should reform entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security. (Condon, 4/17)
The New York Times: Jeb Bush Proposes Requiring Medicare End-Of-Life Directives
Jeb Bush, defending his efforts to keep alive Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman, when he was governor of Florida, suggested on Friday that patients on Medicare should be required to sign advance directives dictating their care if they become incapacitated. A similar proposal by President Obama — that doctors should be paid to advise patients on end-of-life decisions — became a political firestorm in 2009, when Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate, claimed that the legislation would give bureaucrats the power to decide if some frail or disabled people were deserving of medical care. The assertion was shown to be false. (Haberman, 4/17)
The Washington Post: Jeb Bush: Maybe Medicare Recipients Should Be Required To Sign Advance Directives
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush on Friday once again defended his decision to intervene in the case of Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman whose death capped an intense national debate about ethics and politics, but also suggested that Medicare recipients should be required to outline end-of-life care plans before accepting the benefits. (O'Keefe, 4/17)
The Wall Street Journal: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: A Presidential Candidate-In-Waiting
Heading into the weekend, the governor appeared to escape gaffe-free, and his controversial proposal to conduct means testing for seniors receiving Social Security and Medicare drew national attention as the emerging field of GOP contenders jostled for the limelight. Still, Mr. Christie will have to have many good weeks to develop momentum in the crowded 2016 field, political analysts said. (Haddon, 4/17)
Politico Pro: Abortion Opponents’ New Litmus Test For GOP
For decades, Republican presidential contenders would commit to support a constitutional amendment banning abortion — a seemingly definitive statement on the issue that nonetheless had almost no chance of making it through the cumbersome process to change the Constitution. Then, having sewn up anti-abortion support, they would move on to other issues. (Hohmann, 4/17)
