Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Schumer: Asking Democrats For Help Is 'Not That Audacious Of An Idea'
The Hill: Schumer To Trump On Healthcare: 'Try Me'
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is doubling down on his push to get President Trump to meet with Senate Democrats to discuss a bipartisan healthcare deal. "I repeat the offer I made to President Trump and my Republican friends yesterday: Let's start over. Drop this fundamentally flawed approach ... and we can discuss the problems that our Americans are actually concerned about: the cost, the quality, and availability on healthcare," Schumer said from the Senate floor. (Carney, 6/29)
The Hill: Sanders: Throwing 23 Million Off Healthcare Is 'Beyond Obscene'
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) ripped Republicans on Thursday for not holding public hearings on their efforts to repeal and replace ObamaCare, saying the GOP needs to find the "courage" to listen to Americans." They haven't had the courage to hold one hearing in the United States Senate to hear from doctors, to hear from hospitals, to hear from insurance companies," Sanders said on MSNBC. "Put it out on the table. Have hearings. Let's see how we can go forward together to improve the Affordable Care Act, not throw 22, 23 million people off of health insurance." (Bowden, 6/29)
In other news from the Democrats' side of the aisle —
NPR: Senate Democrats Don't Have The Votes To Block The GOP Health Care Bill, So What Can They Do?
When Senate Republican leaders delayed the vote on their bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was quick to not declare victory. "We're not resting on any laurels, nor do we feel any sense yet of accomplishment," Schumer said at his weekly press conference, shortly after the surprise GOP decision to punt on a vote. "Other than we are making progress, because the American people are listening to our arguments." (Detrow, 6/30)
CQ Roll Call: Democrats Push For More Generous Medicare Benefits
The top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hopes to draw a contrast between the two parties by pushing to expand Medicare coverage while Republicans are discussing scaling back benefits under the Democrats' health care law. Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., will reintroduce a bill Thursday, which CQ Roll Call obtained first, that would increase Medicare coverage for dental, hearing and vision care, which are not included in Medicare benefits. Medicare recipients either have to pay out of pocket for things like vision tests or glasses or often forgo them if they prove to be too costly. (Raman, 6/29)
WBUR: With The Senate's Health Care Vote Delayed, What's Next For Democrats?
Do Democrats want to work with Republicans to make the health bill better? Rachel Martin talks to Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee. (Martin, 6/29)
