Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
HHS Will Take Wait-And-See Approach To Idaho Going Rogue On Health Law Regulations
The New York Times: New Health Secretary Faces First Test As Idaho Skirts Federal Law
Alex M. Azar II, the new secretary of health and human services, said Thursday that he would closely scrutinize a plan by Idaho to allow the sale of insurance that does not comply with the Affordable Care Act, an early test of how he will enforce a law he opposes. But he said it was too early to know what action he might take. “We’ll be looking at that very carefully and measure it up against the standards of the law,” Mr. Azar said at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee. (Pear, 2/15)
The Wall Street Journal: White House Sidesteps Idaho Dispute On Health Insurance
The dispute has put the new HHS secretary in the political crosshairs, caught between an administration that is seeking to dismantle the ACA and Democrats who insist the health law must continue to be enforced as long as it is still in force. Mr. Azar said the decision last month by the Idaho Department of Insurance to let insurers offer consumer plans that could charge higher premium rates to people with pre-existing conditions was a sign that too many people can’t afford coverage under the ACA. (Armour, 2/15)
Modern Healthcare: Azar Promises Careful Consideration Of Blue Cross' Idaho Plans
HHS Secretary Alex Azar on Thursday indicated he would work with Idaho on reshaping its individual market in the wake of the state's plans to allow insurers to sell plans that flout Affordable Care Act coverage rules. That paves the way for a potential showdown with congressional Democrats who want to defend the ACA but have very little political power to do so. In his budget defense before the Senate Finance Committee, Azar refused to lay out an immediate plan of action against Idaho's proposal for "state-based plans" that don't comply with some ACA requirements as long as the insurer offers ACA-compliant plans too. (Luthi, 2/15)
In other health law news —
The Hill: GOP Negotiators Meet On ObamaCare Market Fix
Top Republican negotiators on a bill to stabilize ObamaCare markets met on Thursday to discuss a way to bridge the gap between House and Senate measures. GOP Sens. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) and Susan Collins (Maine) met with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) to discuss an effort to get ObamaCare stability measures included in a coming long-term government funding bill due in March, known as an omnibus. (Sullivan, 2/15)
