Looking Ahead In New Year: What’s To Come In Health Care For 2018
The health care landscape is set for a tumultuous year. Media outlets take note of what you should watch for -- from the health law to hospitals and more.
Modern Healthcare:
2018 Outlook On Politics And Policy: Insurers Will Come Out Ahead
Despite a year of policy delays, glitches and uncertainty, insurers may be the ones to come out ahead of other segments of the industry in 2018. Uncertainty and policy confusion will no doubt continue this year since House and Senate Republicans are already on different pages when it comes to healthcare reform. Now that the GOP's $1.5 trillion tax overhaul is done, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is setting his sights on entitlement reform as a way to rein in costs. This could mean trimming welfare, Social Security and Medicaid, but he has signaled Medicare provider cuts are also on the table. (Luthi and Dickson, 12/30)
The Hill:
Five Ways Trump Can Undermine ObamaCare In 2018
President Trump faces a slew of critical decisions in 2018 about how far he wants to go to undermine ObamaCare. There are increasing doubts about the ability of Congress to repeal the law, which will put even more focus on administrative actions to chip away at the Affordable Care Act. It is unlikely, though, that Trump can deal a death blow to the law. (Sullivan, 12/30)
Stat:
3 Political Issues For Hospitals To Watch In 2018
Hospitals and health providers suffered minimal damage in this year’s political collision over Obamacare. But 2018 will bring a series of equally high-stakes debates that will affect the financial viability of hospitals and the future of how care is measured and delivered. And by the way, the war over Obamacare is hardly over — it’ll start up again next year with proposals to stabilize insurance markets and renewed GOP repeal efforts. (Ross, 12/28)
Stat:
What Will 2018 Bring For Science And Medicine? We Asked The Experts
Between the uncertainties of science, the fickleness of markets, and really just everything related to the White House, the fate of science and medicine in 2018 seems nigh unpredictable to us. So we reached out to a bunch of people who would know better and asked for their crystal ball readings of what the new year will bring. Here’s what they said. (1/2)
Stat:
Three FDA Issues You Should Be Watching In 2018
It’s been a busy year for the Food and Drug Administration — since Commissioner Scott Gottlieb was confirmed in May, he has led the agency with an ambitious agenda, tackling everything from prescription opioid addiction to tobacco use to dubious stem cell clinics. And 2018 shows no signs of letting up. Many of the proclamations the FDA has made under Gottlieb will come to fruition, or at least to bud, in the new year. (Swetlitz, 12/26)
Stat:
3 Congressional Races You Should Be Watching In 2018
Among the many issues Democrats hope to use to their advantage before the 2018 midterm elections — think Russia, a controversial tax overhaul, and a broader referendum on President Trump’s time in the White House — expect to see health care at or near the top of the list. The Senate came a vote away in August from repealing the Affordable Care Act. Congress has yet to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the sweeping tax bill it approved in late December is likely to destabilize current ACA exchanges via a repeal of the law’s individual mandate. (Facher, 12/27)
Meanwhile, looking back at 2017 —
Politico:
Top 10 Health Care Surprises From Year One Of Trump
President Donald Trump stormed into office last January confident that he could knock off Obamacare in a nanosecond. It didn't turn out that way — and from drug prices to the Tom Price travel scandal, a lot of health policy didn't go according to plan. Here's a look at 10 health care surprises from 2017. (Cancryn, 12/30)
The Hill:
Trump HHS Secretary Wrote Two More Checks To Cover Wife’s Flights
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price wrote two checks to the federal government for his wife's travels in Asia and Africa the day before he resigned, according to documents obtained by The Hill. The checks, which were dated Sept. 28, total a combined $7,502.66. He also wrote a check the same day for more than $50,000 to cover his expenses, which was previously reported. (Weixel, 12/22)
