Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Rep. Price Says Hill Republicans Hope To Overhaul Medicare In 2017
The Fiscal Times: GOP Cuts In Medicare May Be Next After Dismantling Obamacare
The pledge by President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act beginning early next year has dominated the national policy debate since Trump, and the GOP swept to victory in last week’s election. ... However, practically overnight the Republicans have substantially raised the stakes in their drive to reform the government health care system and cut costs. House Budget Committee Chair Tom Price (R-GA) told reporters on Thursday that the House GOP will likely push next year for major changes and cuts in Medicare, the premier health care program for 57 million seniors that has been the bedrock of retirees’ health coverage since the mid-1960s. (Pianin, 11/18)
Miami Herald: Rep. Tom Price, A Possible Trump Cabinet Pick, Says GOP Will Begin Medicare Overhaul
Price, orthopedic surgeon and vocal critic of the Affordable Care Act from Roswell, Georgia, is being floated as a possible health and human services secretary in the Trump administration. Although President-elect Donald Trump said during the campaign that he doesn’t support cuts to Social Security or Medicare, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has repeatedly moved to privatize both programs. Price, who visited Trump in New York City on Wednesday, canceled an afternoon interview Friday with Georgia Public Radio in which he was expected to discuss GOP plans for Medicare and the Affordable Care Act. (Pugh, 11/18)
The Hill: House GOP Eying Major Medicare Overhaul In 2017
The head of the House Budget Committee said Thursday that lawmakers are eying an overhaul of Medicare next year. Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) said he expects lawmakers to push forward with an overhaul “within the first six to eight months” of President-elect Donald Trump's administration. He said it would be tackled through the budget tactic in the Senate called “reconciliation,” which allows major spending-related bills to pass the upper chamber without a veto. “I think that’s probably in the second phase of reconciliation, which would have to be in the fiscal year 2018 budget,” Price added. (Ferris, 11/17)
In other news --
Modern Healthcare: WellCare Bets On Medicare With $800 Million Buyout Of Universal American
WellCare Health Plans will acquire Universal American Corp. in a deal valued at $800 million, bolstering the company's investment in Medicare Advantage and accountable care organizations. WellCare will pay $10 per share in the all-cash deal for Universal American, equating to about $620 million based on the company's latest number of outstanding shares. After factoring in Universal American's debt and retirement of preferred shares, the deal is worth about $800 million. Experts believe the Medicare Advantage market, already growing at a feverish pace, will expand further under President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress, who have embraced the private HMO version of traditional Medicare. (Herman, 11/17)
