Some Republicans Coming Around On Legislation To Stabilize Health Law Marketplace

“That reflects the political reality that we are not going to be doing some large, sweeping health-care bill in the next year,” said Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Pa.). Meanwhile, congressional Democrats have written to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma urging them to act on Idaho's plan to let insurers offer coverage below the standards set by the health law.

The Hill: House GOP Warming To ObamaCare Fix

Key House Republicans are warming to a proposal aimed at bringing down ObamaCare premiums, raising the chances of legislative action this year to stabilize the health-care law. House GOP aides and lobbyists say that top House Republicans are interested in funding what is known as reinsurance. The money could be included in a coming bipartisan government funding deal or in another legislative vehicle. (Sullivan, 2/1)

Modern Healthcare: Congressional Democrats Eye HHS' Response To Idaho ACA Insurance Plans

Leading congressional Democrats, worried about Idaho's plan to break with Affordable Care Act regulations on its state exchange, warned HHS on Wednesday that they are watching how the Trump administration plans to uphold the Affordable Care Act statute. Early in January, Idaho officials made the first step to test the limits of the Trump administration's dislike of the ACA when Republican Gov. Butch Otter asked via executive order for "creative" options to expand choice on the exchanges. Idaho's insurance commissioner in response put out guidelines asking insurers to come up with cheaper alternatives to the current, ACA-compliant plans to offer on the individual market exchange. (Luthi, 1/31)

And in other news from Capitol Hill —

CQ: Health Centers Push For Long-Term Funding

Community health centers are increasingly nervous about their funding, months after it expired last fall. As the March 31 end of many centers’ grant contracts inches closer, some states are experiencing problems with retaining and hiring staff. Funding for community health centers, or CHCs, ended Sept. 30 along with funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and several other safety net programs. However, while CHIP funding was renewed for six years as part of the last continuing resolution (PL 115-120), no steps were taken to fund the centers. (Raman, 1/31)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

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