Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
HHS Secretary Tight-Lipped On Health Law Changes, But Says 'We Have To Fix The Problem'
The Wall Street Journal: Republicans Fuel Uncertainty Over Health Law’s Fate
Republicans, struggling to figure out their next steps after their health-care bill’s collapse, delivered mixed signals on Wednesday about how they will contend with the 2010 law, with a Trump administration official promising to uphold the law and others saying they will continue working on its repeal. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said on Wednesday he is obligated to uphold the Affordable Care Act as long it is in place, but he didn’t commit to specific actions, including implementing the requirement that most Americans pay a penalty if they don’t have health coverage. (Armour, Peterson and Radnofsky, 3/29)
The Associated Press: Trump's Top Health Official Gets Bipartisan Grilling
President Donald Trump's top health official got strong pushback Wednesday from lawmakers of both parties about deep cuts the White House is pressing in medical research, public health and social service programs. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price also dodged repeated attempts by Democrats to flush out the administration's next move on the Obama-era health insurance law. President Donald Trump's push to repeal the health care law failed last week because of disagreement among Republicans. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 3/29)
The Washington Post: Trump Administration Still Plans To Undo Parts Of The ACA, Tom Price Testifies
[U]nder intense questioning from Democrats, Price outlined how his department could make insurance plans cheaper by scaling back several federal mandates, including what the ACA currently defines as “essential benefits” in coverage. And he refused to say whether the administration will keep providing cost-sharing subsidies for insurers participating in the federal marketplace. The multibillion-dollar infusion is critical to maintaining the system’s stability, insurers say. (Eilperin and DeBonis, 3/29)
Bloomberg: Trump’s Health Secretary Won’t Say If Administration Still Supports Obamacare Repeal
Pressed by Representative Mark Pocan, a Democrat from Wisconsin, on whether the administration still wants to repeal the law, Price said: “What we’re trying to do is make sure individuals have access to coverage and care.” (Edney and Tracer, 3/29)
The Hill: HHS Secretary Grilled On Plans For ObamaCare, Research Cuts
He did note that he will enforce the law, including ObamaCare's mandate for people to have coverage. "So long as the law is on the books, we at the department are obliged to uphold the law," Price said. (Sullivan, 3/29)
Politico Pro: Trump’s Top Health Official Is Mum On Obamacare Plans
As a member of Congress, Price was adamant: He spent years vowing to destroy the law, and addressing House appropriators on Wednesday, he railed against Obamacare for restricting Americans’ health care freedoms and vowed to do whatever he could to expand choice and lower premiums. But he left both lawmakers and the health care industry with several big, unanswered questions. (Cancryn, 3/29)
In other news on the HHS secretary —
Kaiser Health News: Senators Demand Answers About Possible Probe Of HHS Secretary Price
Nine senators are pushing U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reveal what he knows about a reported investigation into Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price’s stock trades that a top federal prosecutor might have begun before being fired by the Trump administration this month. In a letter Wednesday, seven senators — six Democrats plus Vermont independent Bernie Sanders — called on Sessions to assure them that any investigation of Price — or others connected to the Trump administration — would be “allowed to continue unimpeded.” (Kopp and Bluth, 3/29)
