Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
House GOP Eyes Budget For Health Law Repeal, Medicare And Medicaid Transformations
The New York Times: In Control, Republicans See Budget As Way To Push Agenda
Next year, House Republicans will try again to transform Medicare and Medicaid, repeal the Affordable Care Act, shrink domestic spending and substantially cut taxes for high earners through the budget process. Then they will leave it to the new Senate Republican majority to decide how far to press the party’s small-government vision, senior House aides said this week. (Weisman, 11/12)
CNN: Rubio, Ryan Crafting Obamacare Alternative
Two potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates -- Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio -- are teaming up on a proposal to replace President Barack Obama's signature health care law. Their plan could be voted on in the new Congress next year, when the GOP will control both the House and Senate. (Walsh, 11/11)
The Chicago Sun Times: Axelrod Says Obama Should Compromise On Obamacare Work Week
Obamacare has been under a consistent attack from Republicans since its creation, and while President Barack Obama said he's open to making "responsible changes to the Affordable Care Act to make it work better," former White House senior adviser David Axelrod said compromise is key. And while on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Axelrod pointed directly at the definition of full-time workers under the law. "I think the key is to say, 'Are there areas in which they can work?'" Axelrod said. "Is it, you know, the number of hours from 30 to 40 in terms of how people are categorized for the program and what businesses have to do, whether a 30-hour week is enough to qualify for the program or whether you need more hours, those are things they ought to be able to compromise on." (Merda, 11/11)
Politico: Ted Cruz Out On A Limb On Obamacare Repeal
Ted Cruz is still ready to use any means necessary to repeal Obamacare. But even his fellow conservatives aren’t all jumping on board – a sign that the Republican repeal or bust movement is struggling while Obamacare continues to enroll millions of people with health insurance. (Nather, 11/11)
The Washington Post's Fact Checker: Repeat After Me: It’s About Obamacare And Workers, Not Jobs
Thom Tillis is a newly-minted senator from North Carolina, having narrowly defeated the incumbent, Sen. Kay Hagan (D). But in one of his first interviews since the campaign ended, he hauled out a stale talking point that has long been debunked. What’s dismaying about this is that The Fact Checker called out Tillis on this issue back in February, when his campaign first aired an ad making this claim. Time for a refresher course! (Kessler, 11/12)
Also in the news, women's health issues continue to draw voter attention -
Politico Pro: Poll Finds Women’s Health Still A Winning Issue With Voters
Two abortion-rights groups released a four-state poll Tuesday that they say shows the Democrats’ focus on women’s health issues wasn’t the reason for their midterm election losses. (Villacorta, 11/11)
Meanwhile, on the legislative front -
CQ Healthbeat: Bill Would Encourage VA To Accept Help From Volunteer Doctors
The House's chief appropriator on veterans' issues is making the case that it has been too difficult for doctors who want to volunteer their time at short-staffed Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and has readied legislation to address the issue in the upcoming lame duck session. Texas Republican John Culberson, who chairs the House Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, said in an interview that the process of volunteering time at the VA is a "bureaucratic morass" and argued the department was turning away free help. (O'Brien, 11/10)
