Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Political Winds Have Shifted When It Comes To Health Law, Now Seen As Possible Winning Issue For Democrats
The Hill: GOP In Retreat On ObamaCare
Republicans are retreating from calls to repeal ObamaCare ahead of this year’s midterm elections. Less than a year after the GOP gave up on its legislative effort to repeal the law, Democrats are going on offense on this issue, attacking Republicans for their votes as they hope to retake the House majority. (Sullivan, 4/20)
Kaiser Health News: Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Nothing In Health Care Ever Goes Away
Congressional Republicans have struck a decidedly different tone when talking about the Affordable Care Act, and the Democrats have introduced a new Medicare expansion bill. Meanwhile, states are talking about Medicaid expansion, and a federal court’s ruling on Maryland’s proposal to battle drug price-gouging sends shock waves nationwide. Both chambers of Congress have been busy introducing legislative fixes for the nation’s opioid epidemic with lawmakers promising that legislation will land this spring. (4/19)
In other health law news —
Modern Healthcare: How Stakeholders In The Short-Term Medical Market Are Gearing Up To Attract More Customers
The Trump administration's proposal to allow insurers to sell short-term medical plans that last up to 12 months, coupled with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate penalty in 2019, is bound to drive up enrollment in the short-term plan market next year. Some insurance companies are gearing up to capitalize on what they hope will be a flood of new customers by adding new, attractive benefits to their short-term products. At the same time, a major online brokerage is shifting gears to promote "ACA alternatives" rather than putting comprehensive major medical plans front and center for health plan shoppers. (Livingston, 4/19)
CQ: States Take Steps To Shore Up Insurance Markets
More states are moving closer this week to pouring funds into their health insurance markets, emphasizing the concern over rising premiums in 2019. Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker on Thursday submitted a waiver application to the Trump administration seeking to implement a reinsurance program, which would help cover high-cost patients in the state’s individual health insurance market. (McIntire and Clason, 4/19)
