Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Planned Parenthood Regains Access To Medicaid Funds After Congress Let Ban Expire
The Hill: Planned Parenthood Set To Regain Federal Funding As GOP Ban Expires
Planned Parenthood will regain access to federal funding on Saturday, one year after Republicans were able to cut its clinics off from Medicaid. Last year, Republicans were successful in using the party-line One Big Beautiful Bill Act to achieve their long sought-after goal of defunding Planned Parenthood. But the complicated Senate rules involved in passing the bill meant the ban only lasted one year instead of 10. Come July 4, Medicaid will once again cover non-abortion care at Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide. (Weixel, 7/2)
More about the costs of healthcare —
CNBC: Why ACA Enrollment Has Fallen By Millions
Enrollment in the Affordable Care Act marketplace has fallen by millions of people this year — and the Trump administration and health policy experts are at odds over the cause. (Iacurci, 7/3)
KFF Health News: New Medicaid Work Rule Means More Opportunities To Lose Coverage
Too sick to work? You may have to prove it. Next year, Medicaid recipients will have to start showing documentation such as a doctor’s note to avoid a new work requirement. KFF Health News correspondent Sam Whitehead broke down the rule and exceptions on WAMU’s Health Hub on July 1. (Whitehead, 7/6)
KFF Health News: Journalists Discuss Healthcare Costs' Political Fallout, Concerns About Canceled ICE Facility
KFF Health News senior correspondent Julie Appleby discussed the high cost of healthcare and the political fallout on WAMU’s 1A on June 30. (7/3)
Initiatives on Congress' radar —
Axios: Democratic Socialists Give New Life To Medicare For All
Democratic socialist and progressives' success in this year's primaries is evidence of new enthusiasm for Medicare for All plans that many centrists have long dismissed as costly pipe dreams. The health affordability crisis and widespread frustration with the medical system are fueling a new appetite for big-government solutions to address drug prices, insurance premiums and long-term care costs. (Goldman, 7/6)
MedPage Today: It Has Wide Support And Costs Nothing. Can This Prior Auth Bill Pass Congress?
"I still have hope," said Peggy Tighe, legislative counsel for the Regulatory Relief Coalition, a group of physician specialty organizations advocating for regulatory burden reduction in Medicare, when she was asked about the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, which was approved last week by the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee. The measure, which seeks more transparency and accountability from Medicare Advantage plans on their prior authorization decisions, must still be approved by the full Ways & Means and House Energy & Commerce committees before it hits the House floor for a vote. (Frieden, 7/3)
Modern Healthcare: Congress Eyes Boost To Direct Contracting For Employers
Employer groups and companies that specialize in direct contracting arrangements are opening a new front in their battle against health insurance companies. Tentatively dubbed the Direct Care Coalition, the group is expected to launch in the fall. Likely members made their case at a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing Wednesday. Witnesses pitched direct contracting with providers and cutting out the middleman as a solution to rising health benefit costs, and asked lawmakers to enact policies that would make that easier. (McAuliff, 7/2)
