Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In Report Card, White House Economists Warn Health Law Repeal, Replace Would Have 'Profound Implications'
CNBC: Obamacare Report Card Claims Next Year's Higher Premiums Are 'One-Time Adjustment'
The Obama administration on Tuesday released a wide-ranging, positive report card on the Affordable Care Act, describing how Obamacare has driven down the rate of people without health insurance "to its lowest level in history," increased financial security and access for consumers who seek medical care, and bent the cost-curve of health-care spending. (Mangan, 12/13)
The Hill: White House Report Makes Case Against ObamaCare Repeal
The White House’s top economists released a sweeping report Tuesday warning of “profound implications” for a majority of Americans if ObamaCare is repealed and replaced. The report, dubbed “the economic record” of President Obama’s healthcare reforms, marks the administration's most public effort since the presidential election to pressure Republicans into keeping parts of the law in place. (Ferris, 12/13)
The Washington Times: White House Says Obamacare Is Saving Lives
The Obama administration pressured the federal health care law’s foes Tuesday to think twice about repealing the overhaul in the new year, releasing a report that defends the six-year-old reforms as a lifesaver that’s covered millions and ushered in a raft of benefits that will save people money. The White House Council of Economic Advisers said 20 million more people have insurance because of the Affordable Care Act, and the share of Americans reporting they delayed care because of costs has dropped by a third since 2010. (Howell, 12/13)
Morning Consult: Council of Economic Advisers Report Defends Obamacare Progress
The White House Council of Economic Advisers said in a report released Tuesday that the U.S. has made “historic progress” under the Obama administration when it comes to expanding access to health insurance and reforming how care is delivered. “The six years since the ACA became law have seen very encouraging trends in both health care costs and health care quality,” the report says, referring to the Affordable Care Act and citing the slower growth of health care costs and indications of higher quality of care. (McIntire, 12/13)
CQ Roll Call: Obama Administration Pushes New Health Care Data
The compilation of federal and state-by-state data comes as Republicans in Congress work through their strategy to repeal large aspects of the overhaul. The information, which does not provide any new statistics on the ongoing open enrollment period that runs through Jan. 31, is intended to highlight the benefits of the 2010 health care overhaul (PL 111-148, PL 111-152). More than 20 million new individuals received insurance under the law. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in late November, when the most recent public data from the agency was released, said 2.1 million new individuals have signed up or re-enrolled for insurance during the current open enrollment period. (Williams, 12/13)
