Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
For GOP, Dismantling The Health Law Remains Top Priority
The Wall Street Journal: GOP Lawmakers Weigh Contentious Tactic To Dismantle Health Law
Republican lawmakers and aides say there is broad enthusiasm for using the process known as reconciliation to try to repeal the 2010 health care law and potentially replace it with a GOP alternative. Another contender, looking less likely now, is using the process for a tax overhaul. (Peterson and Crittenden, 1/30)
Fox News: GOP House To Vote Next Week To Repeal Obamacare, After Attacking Law Piece By Piece
The Republican-led House is set to begin February with a vote to repeal Obamacare, making clear that trying to dismantle the health care law remains a top priority. (2/1)
Politico: GOP Chairmen To Lead Task Force To Develop Obamacare Alternative
Three powerful committee chairmen — including Rep. Paul Ryan — will lead a working group to develop an alternative to Obamacare, the House Republicans’ most serious attempt thus far to develop their health care reform package, according to GOP sources. (Sherman and Bresnahan, 1/30)
Meanwhile, news outlets offer status checks on the Supreme Court and how its review of King v. Burwell could give the GOP an important assist in these efforts -
The Fiscal Times: Will The Supreme Court Help The GOP Repeal Obamacare?
Republican lawmakers are still vowing to repeal Obamacare — but this time they’re banking on the Supreme Court to help them. If the Court rules against the administration in the much-anticipated case of King v. Burwell, some 6 million people would lose their subsidies and far fewer people would be able to buy coverage on the insurance exchanges. This could have enormous implications that could upend the entire law. (Ehley, 2/1)
CNN: Where We Are In The Supreme Court Term
On March 4, the Court will hear a challenge to a section of the Affordable Care Act concerning the subsidies available to individuals who purchase competitively priced insurance from the American Health Benefit Exchanges. As things stand now, 16 states and the District of Columbia have established their own exchanges, while 34 states have opted to have federally-facilitated Exchanges. At issue: who qualifies for the subsidies? (De Vogue, 2/2)
In addition, the health law's medical device tax is a prime target -
Politico: Lobbying Push Puts Obscure Tax At Top Of Obamacare Repeal Agenda
An obscure Obamacare tax on medical devices has emerged as the Republicans’ best chance of repealing part of the health care law this year. The tax may not be what ordinary Americans who oppose Obamacare focus on — or even know about. (Norman, 2/2)
The Associated Press: Drive To Repeal Medical Tax No Slam Dunk In Congress
It flew through the Republican-run House in 2012, and a year later 79 of the Democratic-led Senate's 100 members embraced it. With Republicans now controlling both chambers of Congress, the chances for repealing the 2.3 percent tax on medical devices are better than ever. Yet abolishing the tax won't be easy, even though Republicans rank it a top priority and are backed by Democrats from states that rely on the industry for jobs. (Fram, 1/31)
In other Capitol Hill news -
The Washington Post: How Rand Paul Tried To Lead An Eye Doctors’ Rebellion
The saga began in the 1990s, when Paul — now a senator representing Kentucky and a GOP presidential contender — hatched a plan to put his family’s free-market ideals into practice. He wouldn’t submit to the establishment. He would out-compete it by offering doctors an alternative with lower fees and fairer rules. His do-it-yourself medical board lasted more than a decade, becoming one of the most complex organizations Paul ever led on his own. But it didn’t work. Indeed, in a life of successes, it became one of Paul’s biggest flops. (Fahrenthold, 2/1)
