Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
GOP Caught Between Holding Line On Core Beliefs And Appeasing Voters Who Put Trump In Office
The New York Times: G.O.P.’s Health Care Tightrope Winds Through The Blue-Collar Midwest
James Waltimire, a police officer on unpaid medical leave, has been going to the hospital in this small city twice a week for physical therapy after leg surgery, all of it paid for by Medicaid. Mr. Waltimire, 54, was able to sign up for the government health insurance program last year because Ohio expanded it to cover more than 700,000 low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act. He voted for President Trump — in part because of Mr. Trump’s support for law enforcement — but is now worried about the Republican plan to effectively end the Medicaid expansion through legislation to repeal the health care law. (Goodnough and Martin, 3/19)
Politico: Ryan Stakes It All On Obamacare Repeal
Speaker Paul Ryan and President Donald Trump — those awkward, sometimes reluctant allies — face the biggest test yet of their unusual relationship as the House barrels toward a dramatic vote this week on repealing and replacing Obamacare. The stakes could not be higher for either of them. (Bresnahan and Bade, 3/20)
The Hill: Ryan-Aligned Group Pressures Vulnerable Republicans To Support Healthcare Bill
A group allied with House GOP leaders is targeting Republicans in competitive House districts with an ad campaign ahead of a potential vote this week on legislation to repeal and replace the healthcare law. American Action Network (AAN) is launching digital ads on Monday through video, display ads and landing pages urging lawmakers to support the GOP leadership-backed bill, titled the American Health Care Act. (Marcos, 3/20)
Roll Call: Advocacy Group Targets 29 Republicans Ahead of Health Care Vote
An advocacy group with close ties to House leadership is launching a final push to pressure 29 Republicans to support the GOP health care plan ahead of an expected vote later this week. Some of those lawmakers have indicated they won’s support the bill. The six-figure digital campaign comes from American Action Network, the issue advocacy organization that has already spent more than $10 million in 75 congressional districts in support of Republicans’ plan to repeal and replace the 2010 health care law. (Pathé, 3/20)
Politico: Brat: 'There's Primaries Coming' Off Obamacare Repeal
If he were still Professor Dave Brat, he’d call the course he might teach about the last couple of months in Washington, “A Primer in Chaos Theory.” But he’s Congressman Dave Brat, and instead he’s been sowing some of that chaos himself. And he’s nowhere near done helping lead the intra-Republican revolt against the Obamacare repeal bill pushed hard by House Speaker Paul Ryan and President Donald Trump. He's already predicting conservative insurgents will primary GOP incumbents over the health care fight. (Dovere, 3/20)
The Associated Press: Chaffetz' IPhone Gaffe Lands Him Well-Funded Utah Challenger
Rep. Jason Chaffetz has strolled to four easy re-election wins in his Republican-friendly Utah congressional district, but now he's facing a surprising challenge from a Democratic political newcomer who raised nearly a half million dollars — by tapping into anger over Chaffetz' recent comment suggesting people should spend their money on health insurance instead of iPhones. Dr. Kathryn Allen has been transformed from a political unknown into a liberal hero for calling out Chaffetz on Twitter, giving her an early boost in name recognition ahead of the November 2018 election. (McCombs, 3/17)
