Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Shutdown Watch: Republicans Offer Democrats Six-Year CHIP Extension To Force Them To Table
The New York Times: G.O.P. To Use Children’s Health Insurance As Lure For Averting Shutdown
With little hope of an immigration agreement this week, Republicans in Congress are looking to head off a government shutdown this weekend by pairing another stopgap spending measure with long-term funding for the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program, daring Democrats to vote no. (Kaplan and Pear, 1/16)
Politico: House Republicans Coalesce Behind Plan To Avert Shutdown
Speaker Paul Ryan unveiled a plan at a House GOP Conference meeting to fund the government through Feb. 16, and numerous rank-and-file members quickly endorsed it despite their frustration with another short-term patch. To further sweeten the pot, the Wisconsin Republican’s bill also includes a delay of several Obamacare taxes and a six-year extension of a popular health care program for children. (Bade, Ferris and Scholtes, 1/16)
The Associated Press: Conservatives Balk At GOP Plan To Avert Government Shutdown
House Republican leaders tried to win over wary conservatives with a promise to repeal unpopular taxes as part of the bill preventing a shutdown. They sweetened the plan with a two-year delay on implementation of unpopular taxes on medical devices and generous employer-subsidized health care plans. The taxes, also unpopular with many Democrats, are part of former President Barack Obama's marquee health law. The temporary funding bill would also include a long-delayed, six-year renewal of a popular health insurance program for children of low-income families. It would fund the government through Feb. 16. (1/17)
The Hill: GOP Leaders Pitch Children's Health Funding In Plan To Avert Shutdown
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the chief deputy whip, was full of confidence as he left the meeting of House Republicans in the Capitol’s basement. “I think we’re going to have a good vote and we can move this process forward,” said McHenry, who’s filling in as the GOP’s top vote-counter as Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) recovers from a surgery. (Wong, Sullivan and Zanona, 1/16)
Meanwhile —
The Hill: Lawmakers Weigh Measure To Fight High Drug Prices
Lawmakers are considering adding a measure aimed at fighting high drug prices to an upcoming spending deal, in what would be a rare defeat for the powerful pharmaceutical industry. The measure, known as the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples Act, is intended to prevent branded drug companies from using tactics to delay competition from cheaper generic drugs. It is co-sponsored by a set of unusual bedfellows in both parties. (Sullivan, 1/17)
