House Lawmakers: Ball Is In Senate’s Court On Bills Stabilizing ACA Marketplaces
Reps. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.) said the House is taking a wait-and-see approach to the legislation aimed at shoring up the exchanges. Meanwhile, the White House backs the measure, according to Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.).
CQ HealthBeat:
House Chairmen Wait for Senate Action On Health Stabilization
Two House Republican chairmen say it may be up to the Senate to act first on legislation aimed at stabilizing the individual health insurance market. The fate of two health care bills is tied into the tax overhaul and spending debates that Republicans hope to wrap up by the end of next week. But Reps. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, and Greg Walden, R-Ore., who lead the Ways and Means and the Energy and Commerce committees, respectively, both said late Monday that House Republicans will likely wait to see how the Senate acts on those bills. (McIntire, 12/12)
Politico Pro:
White House Is Said To Back Obamacare Stabilization Measure In Year-End Deal
The White House supports passing stopgap legislation to stabilize Obamacare markets as part of a broader year-end spending agreement, Sens. Susan Collins and Lamar Alexander said today. The pair of GOP senators emerged from an impromptu meeting with Vice President Mike Pence confident that the administration would side with them and pressure House Republicans to drop their opposition to measures aimed at shoring up the health law. (Cancryn and Haberkorn, 12/12)
And in other health law news —
The Hill:
Actuaries Warn Of Premium Increases From Repealing ObamaCare Mandate
A group of insurance experts is warning Congress against repealing ObamaCare’s individual mandate, saying the move would raise premiums and could cause insurers to drop out of the market. The American Academy of Actuaries wrote to congressional leaders on Tuesday saying that “eliminating the individual mandate would lead to premium increases.” (Sullivan, 12/12)
The Hill:
Two GOP Lawmakers Call For End To ObamaCare Program Operating In Only Arkansas
Two Republican lawmakers are calling for the elimination of a little-known ObamaCare program that costs the federal government $10 million a year. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the Government Operations subcommittee, and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced a bill Tuesday that would repeal ObamaCare's Multi-State Plan program. (Hellmann, 12/12)
Kaiser Health News:
Why Do People Hate Obamacare, Anyway?
The Affordable Care Act, aka “Obamacare,” has roiled America since the day it was signed into law in 2010. From the start, the public was almost evenly divided between those who supported it and those who opposed it. They still are. The November monthly tracking poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 50 percent of those polled had a favorable view of the health law, while 46 percent viewed it unfavorably. Partisan politics drives the split. Eighty percent of Democrats were supportive in November, while 81 percent of Republicans were strongly negative. (Rovner, 12/13)
