Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
For Republicans, Knowing The Plan They'll Be Voting On Is A 'Luxury We Don't Have'
The New York Times: Senate Leaders Press For Health Care Vote, But On Which Bill?
Senate Republicans ended a demoralizing week on Thursday with their leaders determined to press ahead with a vote to begin debating health care next week, but with little progress on securing the votes and no agreement even on which bill to take up. With President Trump urging them to move forward on their seven-year quest to erase the Affordable Care Act, Republican senators on Thursday still had not decided whether to revive a proposal to replace former President Barack Obama’s health care law with one of their own, or to simply repeal it and work on a replacement later. (Kaplan and Pear, 7/20)
The Hill: Cornyn: Knowing Health Plan Ahead Of Vote Is 'Luxury We Don't Have'
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the No. 2 Senate Republican, on Thursday said knowing what the Republican healthcare bill will be before a procedural vote is a "luxury we don't have." A Cornyn spokesman said the senator was referring to the open amendment process for the bill, which means that the final product could be altered. (Sullivan, 7/20)
The Washington Post: Cloud Of Confusion Hangs Over Health-Care Bill
Senate Republican leaders’ latest attempt to salvage support for a GOP health-care bill floundered Thursday as leaders struggled to explain to rank-and-file members what exactly they would be voting on next week. Senators left town for the weekend under a cloud of confusion after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reopened talks on a discarded plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act under heavy pressure from President Trump. The White House intervention sparked a flurry of meetings and activity, but the rush produced no new evidence that the bill can pass. (Snell and Goldstein, 7/20)
Reuters: Senate Republicans Complain Of Chaos In Healthcare Effort
U.S. Senate Republicans, scolded by President Donald Trump for failing to overturn Obamacare, tried to salvage their seven-year effort for a new healthcare law on Thursday, but leading senators indicated frustration over shifting goal posts. Trump on Wednesday told the Senate's fractured Republican majority to revive a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare that collapsed on Monday after Republicans from both moderate and conservative factions pulled their support. (Cornwell and Becker, 7/20)
NPR: With 4 Bills In Play To Repeal Obamacare In The Senate, Confusion Reigns
On Thursday, the Senate unleashed yet another iteration of its effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and with it came another analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. If your head is spinning, you've got plenty of company, us here at Shots included. Here are the key versions of repeal and/or replace legislation so far this year. (Grayson, 7/20)
Kaiser Health News: Podcast: What The Health? Senate Health Bill, Mostly Dead?
Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Stephanie Armour of the Wall Street Journal, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss the ever-changing status of the Senate’s effort to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, and the Trump Administration’s efforts to undermine the working of the law. (7/20)
The Hill: Rand Paul Opens Door To Backing Healthcare Bill On Key Hurdle
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is opening the door to helping GOP leadership get a healthcare bill over a key procedural hurdle. The Kentucky Republican said on Thursday that he would support the motion to proceed to the House-passed healthcare bill, which is being used as a vehicle for any action, if he could get a deal on amendments. (Carney, 7/20)
Nashville Tennessean: Sen. Bob Corker Will Support 'Repeal And Delay' Of Obamacare
Sen. Bob Corker reversed course Thursday and indicated he would support a bill the Senate plans to vote on next week to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan. Voting now to repeal the law in two years would give lawmakers the time needed to come up with a plan to replace it, the senator said in a statement Thursday morning. (Collins, Fletcher and Boucher, 7/20)
Politico: Under Fire For Opposing Health Bill, Mike Lee Hits Back
Mike Lee hears the chorus of critics, with blame from the establishment wing of the GOP cascading on the Utah senator for being the Republican that stopped Obamacare repeal. And he's ready to respond. In an interview in his Capitol Hill office Thursday, Lee said he was willing to be the lone senator to bring down his party’s health care bill because it did not do much to stop Obamacare in its tracks. (Everett and Haberkorn, 7/21)
