Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Once A Long Shot, Now Last-Ditch Repeal Effort Is Gaining Traction On Hill
The New York Times: Obamacare Repeal, Thought Dead In July, May Be Revived In Senate
Congressional efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act sprang back to life on Monday as Senate Republicans pushed for a showdown vote on new legislation that would do away with many of the health law’s requirements and bundle its funding into giant block grants to the states. (Pear and Kaplan, 9/18)
The Associated Press: Senate GOP Musters Final Push To Erase Obama Health Care Law
Senate Republicans expressed growing hope Monday for a final push to scuttle President Barack Obama's health care law, an effort that still faces an uphill climb and just a two-week window to pass. Adding more risk, senators would be in the dark about the bill's impact on Americans, since the Congressional Budget Office says crucial estimates won't be ready in time for a vote. (Fram, 9/18)
The Washington Post: The New GOP Health-Care Measure Goes Further Than The Failed One
The latest Obamacare overhaul bill gaining steam on Capitol Hill slashes health-care spending more deeply and would likely cover fewer people than a July bill that failed precisely because of such concerns. What’s different now is the sense of urgency senators are bringing to their effort to roll back the Affordable Care Act, with only a dozen days remaining before the legislative vehicle they’re using expires. (Winfield Cunningham, 9/18)
The Washington Post: New Push To Replace Obamacare Reflects High Stakes For Republicans
The latest proposal would give states control over billions in federal health-care spending, repeal the law’s key mandates and enact deep cuts to Medicaid, the federally funded insurance program for the poor, elderly and disabled. It would slash health-care spending more deeply and would probably cover fewer people than the July bill — which failed because of concerns over those details. The appearance of a new measure reflected just how damaging Republicans consider their inability to make good on a key campaign promise of the past seven years: to repeal and replace President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement. (Sullivan and Snell, 9/18)
Bloomberg: McCain Holds Out As GOP Wages Last-Gasp Push To Repeal Obamacare
Because the measure strives to equalize Medicaid funding between states, some Republicans from Medicaid expansion states in the House could find it hard to support. That includes states like New York and California, which stand to lose federal funds under Graham-Cassidy. Those states have only Democratic senators, but have some GOP House members. (Litvan and Wasson, 9/18)
Bloomberg: Senate GOP Has 12 Days To Repeal Obamacare And No Room For Error
They need to act by Sept. 30 to use a fast-track procedure that prevents Democrats from blocking it, but the deadline doesn’t leave enough time to get a full analysis of the bill’s effects from the Congressional Budget Office. The measure would face parliamentary challenges that could force leaders to strip out provisions favored by conservatives. Several Republicans are still withholding their support or rejecting it outright. (Litvan, Kapur and Wasson, 9/19)
The Hill: Finance To Hold Hearing On ObamaCare Repeal Bill
The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing Monday on the latest effort to repeal ObamaCare as Republicans eye a potential vote next week. “A hearing will allow members on both sides of the aisle to delve deeper into its policy and gain a better understanding of what the authors hope to achieve,” Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said in a statement. (Carney, 9/18)
Nashville Tennessean: Latest ACA Repeal Bill Could Hit Those With Pre-Existing Conditions
The latest Obamacare repeal-and-replace bill in the U.S. Senate raises the possibility that Tennesseans with pre-existing diseases could see increased costs or change in coverage. The legislation would hand states broad authority to determine coverage parameters, including the decision to waive community ratings and the essential health benefits. Known as the "Graham-Cassidy" bill, the measure was crafted by Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. (Fletcher, 9/18)
Meanwhile, some are already speaking out against it —
The Hill: March Of Dimes, American Heart Association Oppose New Senate Repeal-And-Replace Bill
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association and the March of Dimes on Monday came out in opposition to the latest Senate GOP bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare. They are among 16 groups that released a joint statement criticizing the bill, which Republican sponsors say is nearing the 51 votes necessary for passage. (Sullivan, 9/18)
The Hill: Top Louisiana Health Official Rips Cassidy Over ObamaCare Repeal Bill
Louisiana’s top health official sent a scathing letter to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) blasting his new bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare, saying “the harm to Louisiana from this legislation far outweighs any benefit.” “The legislation you’ve introduced this past week gravely threatens health care access and coverage for our state and its people,” Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health Rebekah Gee wrote. (Carter, 9/18)
