Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Sen. Grassley Hints At GOP's Willingness To Work With Democrats On Health Law Changes
Morning Consult: Senate Republicans Change Tone On Obamacare Debate
For the first time in six years, some congressional Republicans are willing to engage in conversations about fixing — not repealing — Obamacare, should another Democrat occupy the White House. Republicans uniformly believe the next Congress must do something to address the Affordable Care Act. ... "There’s two ways” that action on Obamacare could play out, said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in an interview with Morning Consult. “One, if a Republican’s elected, we’re going to have to deliver on our promise to dramatically change the health care system. ... The second one is, if the Democrats elect a president, there’s some changes – there’s some bipartisan support – that ought to be made. But it’d have to have the White House support. So I think it’s going to be pretty much driven by what Hillary would say,” Grassley said. (Owens, 9/28)
And on the debate over Medicaid expansion —
Idaho Statesman: Pleas From Uninsured, Physicians Don’t Sway Idaho Lawmakers On Medicaid Expansion
Following more than two hours of impassioned public testimony, a legislative panel reviewing health care options for thousands of Idaho’s working poor acknowledged Wednesday that it does not expect to reach consensus on what if any action to recommend to the full Legislature. ... At issue before the Legislature — yet again — is how Idaho should address the needs of 78,000 lower-income residents who don’t qualify for standard Medicaid or for subsidized health coverage on the state exchange. The Legislature has been unable to reach consensus on what boils down to two options: approving a modified expansion of Medicaid, with conditions, to cover the so-called gap population, or instituting a more limited, state-financed program. (Dentzer, 9/28)
