Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
McConnell Keeps Foot On The Gas With Eye On Ambitious Health Law Deadline
The Wall Street Journal: Senate GOP Plans Health-Care Vote Next Week
Senate GOP leaders have set a timeline to vote next week on legislation to repeal large chunks of the Affordable Care Act, even though they don’t yet appear to have secured enough support to pass it. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) is intent on keeping pressure on Senate Republicans to move quickly on the bill rolling back and replacing much of the 2010 health law, lawmakers and GOP aides said. The push for a quick vote before the weeklong July 4 recess could backfire, however, as some conservative and centrist Republicans have expressed concern about the emerging shape of the legislation. (Armour and Peterson, 6/19)
Politico: Sources: Senate GOP Prepares For Obamacare Repeal Vote Next Week
Senate Republicans are preparing to vote on Obamacare repeal next week, according to multiple sources familiar with the negotiations, potentially leaving rank-and-file lawmakers with no more than a week to review legislation that would affect millions of Americans and one-sixth of the U.S. economy. Senators are expected to see the text of the bill as soon as the end of this week, those sources said, provided this week's work goes smoothly. The timeline could change based on the response from individual senators toward the proposal at party meetings, but Republicans are increasingly optimistic they can hold a vote next week if this week's lunch talks go well. (Everett and Haberkorn, 6/19)
The Hill: A Frantic Scramble Before Possible Healthcare Vote Next Week
McConnell is walking a tightrope in seeking to win over centrists and conservatives for a Senate version of the House-passed American Health Care Act — which is being negotiated entirely behind closed doors. (Bolton, 6/20)
The Hill: Senate GOP Leader: Health Vote Expected Next Week
"I believe we’re going to vote before the Fourth of July recess on a healthcare plan, a repeal and replacement of ObamaCare," Barrasso, a member of GOP leadership, said on Fox News. "Every Republican is trying to get to yes," Barrasso said while noting, "There are some differences of opinion on specific details of this." (Sullivan, 6/19)
Roll Call: Senate Obamacare Repeal Vote Possible Next Week
The full text of the bill to overhaul the U.S. health care system is expected to be released this week, lobbyists say, and a full report from the Congressional Budget Office could come early next week. That analysis is required for a Senate vote in order to ensure that the legislation complies with the fast-track budget procedure known as reconciliation that the GOP is using to advance the bill. (Williams, 6/19)
The New York Times: The Senate Is Close To A Health Care Bill, But Do Republicans Have The Votes?
The 52 Republican senators have been meeting several times a week behind closed doors to develop a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. At least 50 of them must be on board for the bill to pass, and they could try as soon as next week. (Andrews and Park, 6/19)
Boston Globe: Susan Collins Won’t Back Down On Health Care, And That’s A Problem For Mitch McConnell
Collins and several other key moderates are exerting outsized influence on the debate — and they show little sign of backing down... The predicament is so thorny that McConnell is keeping the deliberations under a deep wrap of secrecy, hoping to delay a public split over specific aspects of the legislation that could ruin the negotiations. (McGrane, 6/19)
