Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
House GOP Budget Plan Would Repeal ACA, Privatize Medicare, Block Grant Medicaid
The New York Times: House Republican Budget Overhauls Medicare And Repeals The Health Law
House Republicans on Tuesday will unveil a proposed budget for 2016 that partly privatizes Medicare, turns Medicaid into block grants to the states, repeals the Affordable Care Act and reaches balance in 10 years, challenging Republicans in Congress to make good on their promises to deeply cut federal spending. (Weisman, 3/16)
Los Angeles Times: Republicans Struggle To Present Unified Front Over 2016 Budget
But faced with pressure from fiscal conservatives for a tough approach that cuts across all aspects of the federal government, Republican leaders will be hard-pressed to produce a document that can unify its ranks. Whether House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will be able to usher a budget to passage remains uncertain. The party’s budget problems are the latest challenge for the Republican-led Congress, which swept into power promising not only to cut spending but also to use the budget process to attack President Obama's top priorities, including the Affordable Care Act. (Mascaro, 3/16)
In related news -
The Associated Press: Improper Payments By Federal Agencies Reach A Record $125B
Federal agencies set a new record for improper payments last year, shelling out $125 billion in questionable benefits after years of declines. The payments included tax credits for families that didn't qualify, Medicare payments for treatments that might not have been necessary, and unemployment benefits for people who were actually working. (3/17)
