First Edition: May 3, 2017
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Kaiser Health News:
Mom’s Policy, Medicaid Or A Health Exchange Plan: What’s A Grad To Do?
Like many recent grads, after Maegan Samuel got her bachelor’s degree from Howard University in 2014, she held a series of temporary jobs — day care worker, secretary — before landing a permanent position a year ago working in operations for a nonprofit association of public health programs in the District of Columbia. Yet throughout this unsettled time, there has been one constant she could count on: her mom’s health insurance, which has covered her as a dependent all along. (Andrews, 5/3)
California Healthline:
To Save On Medi-Cal Costs, A Bid To Help Homeless Patients With Rent Money
Helping homeless Medi-Cal patients afford shelter could curb their frequent emergency room visits and save California millions of dollars a year, state housing and health care advocates say. California lawmakers are considering a measure to devote an additional $90 million in state housing money over five years to subsidize rent for homeless Medi-Cal patients. That money would pay for all or part of the monthly rent for about 1,500 people at any given time during those years, say supporters of the bill. (Bartolone, 5/3)
The New York Times:
G.O.P. Scrambles As A Crucial Voice Shuns The Latest Health Bill
Representative Fred Upton of Michigan was only the latest Republican defector, but he carries more sway than most. The former chairman of one of the House committees that drafted the American Health Care Act, as the Republicans call their measure, Mr. Upton said the latest version of the health care bill “torpedoes” protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions. (Kaplan and Pear, 5/2)
The Washington Post:
GOP Health-Care Push Faces New Obstacles As Concerns About Preexisting Conditions Grow
On Capitol Hill, influential Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) came out against the plan, dealing a major blow to proponents trying to secure enough votes to pass it in the House. Across the country, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s emotional story about his newborn son’s heart condition reverberated on television and the Internet. And former president Barack Obama, who signed the bill Republicans are trying to dismantle, took to Twitter to defend it. All three voiced concerns about losing a core protection in the Affordable Care Act for people with preexisting conditions, as is possible under the latest GOP plan. (Sullivan and Weigel, 5/2)
The Wall Street Journal:
GOP’s Health-Bill Woes Show New Power Of Party’s Centrist Wing
Mr. Upton’s opposition expanded political cover for centrists to oppose the bill, including some facing tough re-election battles in swing districts. In recent years, many of these lawmakers have complained that House leaders were catering too much to the party’s conservative faction. The show of defiance suggested that GOP leaders may not be able to count on the cooperation of their centrist flank on upcoming bills that could prove just as thorny as the health measure, including the president’s plan to overhaul the tax code. (Peterson and Armour, 5/2)
Politico:
GOP Changing Health Bill As Trump Leans In Hard
House Republicans worked late into the night Tuesday on last-minute changes to their Obamacare repeal bill, as President Donald Trump began rallying support to muscle the stalled legislation across the finish line. Senior Capitol Hill and White House officials said a new amendment being drafted Tuesday night would address concerns from key moderates about how the legislation treats individuals with pre-existing conditions. (Dawsey, Bresnahan and Bade, 5/3)
The Associated Press:
A Way Forward On Health Care Bill? Key GOP Rep Has $8B Plan
Top House Republicans scrambling to prevent another collapse of their push to repeal much of the Obama health care law may have found a way to win over some moderate GOP holdouts. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., an influential centrist who'd initially announced opposition to his party's health care bill, said he's crafting an amendment with the backing of party leaders that could gain crucial support for the languishing measure. (Fram, 5/3)
Politico:
The Republicans Who Will Decide The Fate Of Obamacare
Paul Ryan has a major math problem. The House speaker and his leadership team can lose only 22 Republicans and still pass their Obamacare repeal bill. But roughly 20 GOP members are on record in opposition, and at least another two dozen are undecided. (Bade and Cheney, 5/2)
The Washington Post:
Which Republicans Are Putting The Health Care Bill In Jeopardy
[Here] is a list of Republicans who had opposed, remained silent on or switched to supporting the latest version of the legislation. Members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus are bolded. Click on a lawmaker’s name to learn more about their position. (Phillips, Schaul, Soffen and Uhrmacher, 5/2)
The Washington Post:
Preexisting Conditions: How ACA Coverage Would Change Under The House GOP Plan
In an impassioned monologue, late-night TV show host Jimmy Kimmel talked Monday about how Congress might change insurance rules for individuals with preexisting medical conditions, like his newborn son. The boy was born 10 days ago with a heart defect. Here’s the difference between provisions of the Affordable Care Act and what House Republicans propose to do. (Eilperin, 5/2)
The Wall Street Journal:
Jimmy Kimmel’s Tearful Monologue On Son’s Heart Condition Roils Health Debate
Former President Barack Obama, 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer have said Mr. Kimmel’s story shows the ACA and its protections for people with pre-existing conditions should be preserved. Republicans have argued their current bill would maintain such protections and that critics are portraying it in an inaccurate negative light. Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh, who is now a conservative talk radio host, on Tuesday wrote on Twitter: “Got a big problem with ‘we need gov-run healthcare cuz of my sad story.’” (Hackman, 5/2)
USA Today:
Jimmy Kimmel's Son: What Is Tetralogy Of Fallot?
Raise your hand if you had never heard of Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia before Monday's episode of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live. Awareness of this serious congenital heart defect got a big bump after the late-night host shared the story of his newborn son's diagnosis and open-heart surgery. (Deerwester, 5/2)
The Washington Post:
What Is Tetralogy Of Fallot, The Heart Condition Afflicting Jimmy Kimmel's Son?
Tetralogy of Fallot is a rare congenital heart condition characterized by four main problems, including a hole in the wall between the lower chambers of the heart, changing the normal blood flow to the body, according to the American Heart Association. The National Institutes of Health says the condition occurs in about five out of every 10,000 babies. (Bever, 5/2)
Los Angeles Times:
Obamacare 101: Will Sick Americans Still Be Able To Get Insurance Under The House Republican Bill?
As they scramble to get votes to advance legislation to roll back the Affordable Care Act, President Trump and House Republican leaders insist their bill would protect Americans who have preexisting medical conditions. But most healthcare experts and patient advocates dispute this, noting that the House GOP plan would allow states to scrap many protections put in place by Obamacare, as the law is often called. (Levey, 5/2)
Politico:
Obamacare Repeal's Biggest Obstacle? Sick People
Years of Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare might end up failing thanks to a very compelling constituency: the sickest Americans. Democratic activists have turned the health care law's guarantee to cover people with pre-existing conditions into Republicans' Achilles' heel, using the issue to slow and, potentially, even thwart what the GOP hoped would be a quick repeal effort. (Haberkorn, 5/2)
Los Angeles Times:
A Side-By-Side Comparison Of Obamacare And The GOP’s Replacement Plan
Here’s how the proposed Republican American Health Care Act—along with an amendment introduced this week—compares to the 2010 Affordable Care Act. (Levey and Kim, 4/26)
Politico:
Senate GOP Frets House Could Blow It On Obamacare
Senate Republicans are backing off their criticism of the House Republicans’ Obamacare repeal proposal, wary of the consequences that a second failure would have for the party’s quest to gut the law. (Everett, 5/2)
Politico:
No Good GOP Options If Obamacare Repeal Fails
If their latest Obamacare repeal efforts fail, Republicans really have only a few options. And each means political peril for President Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders. (Cancryn and Demko, 5/3)
Politico:
5 Reasons Why It’s So Hard To Repeal Obamacare
Republicans voted more than 60 times to dismantle the Affordable Care Act when Barack Obama was president. But now that the GOP finally holds the White House and can take the law apart, they’ve spent months failing to get enough votes for a repeal bill to even clear the House of Representatives. Why is repealing Obamacare so complicated? Start with these five factors. (Diamond, 5/2)
Politico:
Why Democrats Secretly Want An Obamacare Repeal Vote
House Democrats think they’ve finally found their path back to power: Republicans voting to repeal Obamacare. Yes, the best thing to happen to House Democrats since they pushed through the sprawling health care law — and lost the majority as a result — could be the Republican drive to dismantle it. (Caygle, 5/3)
Reuters:
Insurer Aetna Posts Loss, Evaluates Obamacare Exposure
Like other U.S.-based health insurers including Anthem Inc and Molina Healthcare Corp, Aetna faces deadlines to file 2018 plans but is uncertain about components of premium rates such as the continuation of government subsidies and the mandate for Americans to have insurance. (5/2)
The Wall Street Journal:
Aetna To Pull Back Further From Health Exchanges
Aetna Inc. will again scale back its presence in the Affordable Care Act exchanges in 2018, saying it expects losses on the business this year despite sharply reduced enrollment in its individual plans. (Wilde Mathews and Moise, 5/2)
ProPublica:
With Drug Reps Kept At Bay, Doctors Prescribe More Judiciously
When teaching hospitals put pharmaceutical sales representatives on a shorter leash, their doctors tended to order fewer promoted brand-name drugs and used more generic versions instead, a study published Tuesday in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, shows. The results were significant compared to doctors who worked at hospitals that did not limit sales reps from freely walking their halls or providing meals or gifts, according to research by Ian Larkin, an assistant professor of strategy at the University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management, and colleagues. (Ornstein, 5/2)
The Wall Street Journal:
Revolt Against Sky-High Drug Prices Prompts A Pioneer To Cash Out
Entrepreneur Jeffrey Aronin said a few years ago he hoped to eventually sell Marathon Pharmaceuticals LLC, which he controls and runs, for billions of dollars, according to a person who heard the comment. Some employees have said they now expect him to shut down the company. His deflated ambition is a sign of the increasingly hostile reaction to drug companies that specialize in sharply raising the prices of old medications. Mr. Aronin did that over and over again for 15 years, most recently after Marathon won approval in February to sell a drug for muscular dystrophy in the U.S. (Walker, 5/2)
The Associated Press:
Pfizer Beats 1Q Profit Forecasts, But Sales Slip
Pfizer beat Wall Street expectations for first-quarter profit thanks to reduced spending on operations and legal costs, plus strong sales of key new drugs and longtime blockbuster pain treatment Lyrica. But revenue at the top U.S. drugmaker dipped 1 percent as competition intensified from rival brands and generic copycats. Pfizer is near the end of a years-long stretch in which generic competition cut into revenue from its one-time blockbuster drugs, including cholesterol, heart and pain drugs. Near-copies of Enbrel, an injected immune disorder drug it sells overseas, cut sales 18 percent to $588 million in the quarter, for example. (Johnson, 5/2)
The New York Times:
Molina, Key Provider Under Obamacare, Ousts C.E.O., A Trump Critic
Dr. J. Mario Molina, the outspoken chief executive of the California health insurance company founded by his father, was abruptly removed from his position at Molina Healthcare, according to an announcement by the company on Tuesday. His brother, John, the company’s chief financial officer, was also immediately replaced. (Abelson, 5/2)
The Associated Press:
Shakeup At Molina, CEO And CFO, Sons Of Founder Are Out
The company cited disappointing financial performance and its need to improve its operations and profits for the shake-up. Out are CEO Dr. Mario Molina, 58, who replaced his father as president and CEO in 1996, and John Molina, 52, who had served as chief financial officer since 2003. (5/2)
The Wall Street Journal:
Molina Healthcare Fires CEO, CFO
Chief Accounting Officer Joseph White will serve as CFO and interim CEO. The company has begun a search for a permanent CEO. Shares hit a 52-week high on the news, closing at $59.75, a move that analysts said may partly reflect the belief that the company is now more likely to be acquired. (Wilde Mathews and Hufford, 5/2)
Modern Healthcare:
Molina Healthcare Fires CEO And CFO Amid 'Disappointing' Finances
Dale Wolf, Molina's newly appointed chairman of the board, blamed poor financial results as the reason for kicking the Molina brothers out of the eponymous company their father built. But Molina's first quarter 2017 earnings released later on Tuesday seem at odds with Wolf's stated reason. Molina delivered a strong quarter. Its profit more than doubled to $77 million compared with $24 million at the same time in 2016. Revenue grew by 12.9% to $4.9 billion in the first quarter year over year. (Livingston, 5/2)
USA Today:
For Coal Miner's Widow, Spending Bill Brings 'Big Relief'
Susan Barrett has been on an emotional roller coaster — from anxiety to elation — as Congress dithered in recent weeks over whether to let health insurance lapse for thousands of coal miners and their widows. “I have no one to help me,” said the 77-year-old Coshocton, Ohio, resident, a miner's widow who received a notice last month saying her insurance was about to expire. She felt a wave of “panic” as she tried to imagine how she would pay for her blood thinner or heart medications. (Shesgreen, 5/2)
The Washington Post:
FDA Delays Enforcement Of Stricter Standards For E-Cigarette, Cigar Industry
The Trump administration has delayed enforcement of a rule finalized last year that imposed strict oversight over electronic cigarettes and cigars for the first time. The move, which the Justice Department revealed in court filings Monday night in both the District and Alabama, comes as the vaping and tobacco industries are launching a concerted effort to roll back the Food and Drug Administration regulation through both legislation and litigation. (Eilperin, 5/2)
The Associated Press:
Planned Parenthood Reopens Abortion Clinic In Texas
Planned Parenthood on Tuesday announced the reopening of its first abortion clinic in Texas since the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down strict regulations that prompted more than half of the state’s abortion facilities to close. The location was notable: Waco, which like many rural and midsized cities in Texas lost its only abortion clinic after then-Gov. Rick Perry signed the regulations in 2013. (Weber, 5/2)
The Associated Press:
Alaska Lawmakers Mull Measure Calling Abortion 'Child Abuse'
A conservative state lawmaker has successfully tacked an anti-abortion message onto an otherwise innocuous resolution in the Alaska House aimed at raising awareness about sexual assault and child abuse. The amendment from Republican Rep. David Eastman of Wasilla refers to abortion as "the ultimate form of child abuse." (5/2)
The Associated Press:
Delaware Lawmaker Reintroduces Assisted-Suicide Bill
A Delaware lawmaker has reintroduced legislation allowing doctor-assisted suicide. Democratic Rep. Paul Baumbach of Newark admitted Tuesday that he does not expect to win passage of the legislation, which was tabled in committee two years ago, but wants to continue to shine light on the issue. (Chase, 5/2)
The New York Times:
Black Americans Are Living Longer, C.D.C. Reports
Black Americans still have a higher death rate over all than whites, but the gap is closing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday. Black Americans who live to 65 may now expect to live longer than whites of the same age, the federal researchers also found. (Kolata, 5/2)
The Washington Post:
Life Expectancy Improves For Blacks, And The Racial Gap Is Closing, CDC Reports
Blacks experienced a 25 percent drop in their overall death rate, compared to a 14 percent decrease for whites, between 1999 and 2015. Deaths from heart disease, cancer and stroke declined sharply among blacks 65 and older, and in that age group, blacks now have a lower death rate than whites, the CDC said. But its report shows that the United States has a long way to go before it achieves health equity. Blacks in every age group under 65 continue to have significantly higher death rates than whites. Black life expectancy at birth is about 3½ years lower than that of whites. (Achenbach, 5/2)
NPR:
Black-White Mortality Gap Narrows, Especially Among Elderly
"This report is definitely good news," says Joseph Betancourt, who runs the Disparities Solutions Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Ma. "Efforts over the last 15 to 17 years that have focused on addressing and eliminating disparities have definitely provided some significant results." (Stein, 5/2)
The Associated Press:
NY Lawmakers Split On Court-Ordered Mental Health Treatment
More than 4,000 New York residents are treated each year under Kendra's Law, a controversial program that requires a person dealing with serious mental illness to attend outpatient psychiatric treatment as a condition for living in the community. It was passed in 1999 on a trial basis after 32-year-old Kendra Webdale was pushed in front of a subway train by a man with untreated schizophrenia. It is has since been temporarily reauthorized twice, but New York lawmakers have balked at making the 18-year-old law permanent. It is set to expire in June unless lawmakers grant yet another extension. (Gronewald, 5/2)
The Washington Post:
Baltimore Homicide Detectives To Begin Investigating Drug Overdoses
For the first time, Baltimore police have begun investigating overdoses in an effort to trace drugs back to dealers, joining a wave of Maryland law enforcement agencies showing up at 911 calls previously left to medics. A task force of five detectives will operate out of the homicide unit, responding when possible to fatal and nonfatal overdose scenes. More than 1,000 patrol officers are also being trained by the Drug Enforcement Administration on how to respond to overdose scenes. (Fenton, 5/2)
The Associated Press:
Georgia Locals Fed Up Over Cluster Of Drug Treatment Centers
In the northwest corner of Georgia, where cows and crops vastly outnumber people, a small cluster of privately owned treatment centers have sprung up in recent years for heroin and prescription painkiller addicts. And most of the patients aren’t even from the state. (Kaplan, 5/3)