Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
GOP Senate Candidates Capitalize On Premium Spikes In Hopes Of Holding On To Majority
The Associated Press: Health Premium News Gives Attacks To GOP Senate Candidates
Republican Senate candidates are jumping on news of sharply rising premiums under President Barack Obama's health care law as they seek advantage in the closing days of the election. The unpopular law was already an issue in some key Senate races, a recurring attack line for GOP candidates and in some cases another way to tie Democrats to Hillary Clinton. (Werner, 10/26)
The Associated Press: A Look At Hikes In Health Care Premiums In Senate Races
The cost of health care premiums are going up under President Barack Obama's 2010 law — and the hike looms as an issue in competitive Senate races. Here's a look at the average increase for the typical 27-year-old buying a midlevel plan. The percentage increase is before subsidies to purchase health care coverage, which are determined by income. (10/26)
Morning Consult: Experts Seek Obamacare Fixes As GOP Attacks
Leading health experts are calling for fixes to strengthen Obamacare’s marketplace after the administration acknowledged big premium hikes next year, but such changes would require Republicans to move away from its attacks on the law. Some Republicans have shown a willingness to engage in a conversation about improving Obamacare, but it’s a divisive issue because the attacks have been politically successful for them. (McIntire, 10/26)
Los Angeles Times: Hillary Clinton Promises To 'Fix' Obamacare Rate Hikes, But That's Unlikely With A GOP-Held House
Hillary Clinton promised to fix problems with Obamacare that led to average rate hikes of 25% next year for mid-level health plans before subsidies. But a quick fix, or any fix, seems unlikely given that it would probably require congressional action. (Bierman, 10/26)
Politico: Politico-Harvard Poll: Obamacare Wars Outlast Obama
As Obamacare opponents intensify attacks on soaring rate hikes and shrinking insurance options, a majority of voters believe the health care law is failing and there’s no consensus on what to do about it — findings that bode badly for hopes of Obamacare becoming any less toxic politically when its namesake president leaves office. A new poll conducted for POLITICO and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that 54 percent of likely voters think Obamacare is working poorly. (Norman, 10/26)
In other news from the 2016 elections —
Politico: Politico-Harvard Poll: Clinton Voters Eager To Scrap Hyde Amendment
Most voters oppose Hillary Clinton’s proposal to allow federal tax dollars to cover abortion — but her most ardent supporters love it. A new poll conducted for POLITICO by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that only 36 percent of likely voters want to overturn the long-standing ban on Medicaid paying for abortion with federal funds. But among self-described Clinton voters, 57 percent support scrapping the current rules. (Haberkorn, 10/26)
Kaiser Health News: Clinton Took More Conciliatory Tone With Health Care Industry In Paid Speeches
On the campaign trail, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has sharply criticized the health care industry, accusing pharmaceutical companies of profiteering and vowing to control skyrocketing costs. But Clinton’s tone was often more conciliatory before her presidential campaign when she addressed medical companies and trade groups as part of her brief but lucrative career delivering speeches for pay. (Kopp, 10/26)
Kaiser Health News: Drug Prices, Not The Health Law, Top Voters’ Health Priorities For 2017
Until this week, when big increases in insurance premiums were unveiled for next year, the federal health law has not been a major issue in the presidential election. In fact, fixing what ails the Affordable Care Act isn’t even among voters’ top priorities for health issues for next year, according to a new poll. The monthly October tracking poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that when voters are asked about what the next president and Congress should do about health care, issues relating to prescription drug prices and out-of-pocket spending far outrank proposals to address the shortcomings of the health law. (Rovner, 10/27)
