Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Ryan Unwilling To Promise Another Vote On Health Care Bill
The Hill: Ryan Won't Commit To Healthcare Vote
One week after the GOP ObamaCare repeal and replacement plan collapsed, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Thursday he would not commit to holding another healthcare vote. “I’m not going to commit to when and what the vote is going to look like, because it’s my job to make sure that House Republicans can coalesce and come together and draw a consensus," Ryan told reporters at his weekly news conference. (Wong, 3/30)
The Hill: Freedom Caucus Member: Passing Healthcare Bill Would Cost GOP Majority
A member of the conservative Freedom Caucus took to the House floor on Thursday to warn that passing the GOP leadership’s healthcare plan would result in the party losing its majority. Rep. Louie Gohmert’s (R-Texas) speech came after President Trump took to Twitter earlier in the day to attack members of the Freedom Caucus, saying Republicans “must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!” Gohmert said the GOP bill scuttled last week that was aimed at repealing and replacing ObamaCare wouldn’t have really kept the party’s seven-year promise for a better healthcare alternative. (Marcos, 3/30)
CQ Roll Call: Tensions High As House GOP Tries To Revive Obamacare Repeal
House Republicans appear to have made little progress in their attempt to revitalize the effort to repeal and replace the 2010 health care law following a stunning defeat last week. GOP lawmakers held a series of meetings across the Capitol this week to discuss the path forward on the legislation (HR 1628), including a Republican-only Energy and Commerce meeting on Thursday about health care and separate meetings of the Republican Study Committee and the moderate House Tuesday Group on Wednesday. (Williams and Mershon, 3/30)
The Hill: Centrist Group In House 'Will Never' Meet With Freedom Caucus
The centrist Tuesday Group affirmed at a meeting Wednesday that it will not meet with the conservative House Freedom Caucus to negotiate changes to an ObamaCare replacement bill, according to Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.)...He said the Tuesday Group had a meeting on Wednesday and he can state “unequivocally” that other members of the group agree they should not meet with the Freedom Caucus. (Sullivan, 3/30)
And a bill meant to help people without options for insurance could actually hurt the market —
Modern Healthcare: GOP 'Dead Zone' Bill May Worsen Insurers' Marketplace Exodus
A U.S. Senate bill meant to provide more insurance options for individuals living in markets with no HealthCare.gov plans could exacerbate the problem by taking away both participation incentives and money from insurers. On Wednesday, Tennessee Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker introduced legislation that will allow people who live in counties with no health insurance options on the Affordable Care Act exchange to use their subsidy to purchase any plan outside of the exchanges. (Dickson, 3/30)
