Political, Practical Barriers Prevent Dismemberment, But Trump Can Cut Off Slices Of ACA
There are four areas the president can take action on: the insurance mandate, the subsidy lawsuit, birth control coverage and state funding. Meanwhile, officials say the executive order on the health law has thrown a "curveball" into the open enrollment period, and fund managers are betting that there won't be much change in the marketplace despite congressional promises of repeal.
The Associated Press:
Trump Can Do Plenty On His Own To Unravel Obama Health Law
President Donald Trump can do plenty on his own to unravel the Obama health care law, but some of those actions would create disruptions that undermine his administration's early promises. Other less sweeping steps could open the way for big changes, but might not get as much notice. Suspending enforcement of tax penalties on people who remain uninsured would win Trump immediate cheers from the political right for taking down a widely unpopular requirement. But experts say it would destabilize insurance markets by allowing healthy people to opt out, raising costs for taxpayers and remaining consumers. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 1/23)
McClatchy:
Got Questions On Trump's ACA Executive Order? Here Are Answers
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday aimed at defanging the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, giving heads of federal departments more power to delay or grant exemption from regulations associated with the law. Its immediate effect remains unclear, but we’ve answered some of the most confusing questions. (Magness, 1/23)
Politico:
Trump’s Obamacare Order Throws ‘Curveball’ Into Enrollment Push
Tens of thousands of consumers are inundating Obamacare call centers nationwide with questions about whether they can still sign up for insurance, or if their coverage will continue under President Donald Trump. With only eight days left to sign up for 2017 plans, many consumers — not to mention, insurers and brokers — were stunned and confused by Trump’s order Friday night encouraging federal agencies to dismantle parts of the law even before Congress repeals it. By authorizing agencies to roll back some provisions of the law — but not requiring them to do so — the order added to the uncertainty of already jittery consumers and insurers. (Colliver, 1/24)
Reuters:
U.S. Fund Managers Betting Trump Fails To Rewrite Obamacare
Some prominent U.S. fund managers are betting that former President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law will not undergo the widespread changes that President Donald Trump promised on the campaign trail. Portfolio managers from Fidelity, Gamco, Thornburg and other large firms say they see the broad outlines of the Affordable Care Act - commonly known as Obamacare - remaining intact despite Trump's signing of an executive order on Friday, his first day in office, that sought to weaken it. (Randall, 1/24)
CQ Roll Call:
Obamacare Repeal Bill Likely To Slip Late January Deadline
Key Republicans said Monday that legislation to repeal the 2010 health care law is unlikely to be reported until mid- to late February, pushing back action on GOP plans to dismantle the law. The fiscal 2017 budget resolution adopted by the Congress earlier this month set a Jan. 27 deadline for two committees in the House and two in the Senate to send reconciliation legislation to repeal the health care law to their respective Budget committees. Republicans are using the reconciliation budget process because passage requires just a simple majority of 51 votes in the Senate. (Krawzak, 1/23)
