Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
States Detail Concerns About How They Will Fare Under GOP Plan
Sacramento Bee: CA Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones Blasts Obamacare Repeal
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones blasted House Republicans’ proposed bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act on Wednesday, saying it would deal a devastating blow to the state’s health insurance marketplace and potentially leave 5 million Californians without health coverage. Jones, the state’s top health insurance regulator who is also running for California attorney general in 2018, cautioned that the GOP proposal would lead to a health care death spiral that would result in skyrocketing premiums and millions more uninsured. (Hart, 3/8)
San Jose Mercury News: See How The GOP Health Plan Affects You In The Bay Area
Get your insurance through the individual marketplace set up through the Affordable Care Act? Well, if you’re someone who earns $16,394 to $47,520 you probably get a subsidy to help pay for it. But under the Republicans’ plan those subsidies will change, benefiting people who make up to $75,000 with tax credits to help pay for their health care. Low-income individuals will end up getting less. (Seipel, 3/8)
Los Angeles Times: Most California Insurance Plans Could Be Ineligible For Tax Credits Under The GOP's New Proposal
An antiabortion provision in the recently unveiled House GOP plan to replace Obamacare could make it impossible for most Californians to take advantage of proposed tax credits meant to offset the cost of health insurance. The Republican healthcare proposal would offer individual tax credits to people who do not get insurance from their employer, but it would prohibit that money from being spent on plans that cover abortion — a ban that would make virtually all health plans in the state ineligible for such credits. (Mason, 3/8)
Cleveland Plain-Dealer: Republican Healthcare Plan's Impact On Medicaid Expansion Worries Hospitals, Lawmakers
Ohio hospitals and state lawmakers are worried provisions in the long-awaited Republican legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could harm the state's successful Medicaid expansion and the financial stability of many hospitals. Plans to reduce federal funding for the state-run insurance plan for low-income residents and to limit enrollment could once again increase the number of uninsured patients in the state, they fear. (Zeltner, 3/8)
Arizona Republic: Republican Plan To Repeal 'Obamacare' Would Limit Insurance Aid To Poor
The U.S. House Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act would phase out Arizona's Medicaid expansion after 2020 and limit subsidies that help low-income residents purchase health insurance. Health-care experts predict the bill could mean fewer people would be covered under the Republican plan. (Alltucker, 3/8)
Georgia Health News: State House Speaker ‘Will Be Watching’ Federal Health Care Proposal
The Georgia House speaker said Wednesday that while he hasn’t had time to study the new Republican health care plan in Congress, he has initial concerns about it. David Ralston, a Republican from Blue Ridge, told attendees at the Atlanta Press Club that he has some worry that Georgia, as a state that has not expanded Medicaid, may be hurt under the new plan. And he said he hopes Republicans won’t rush a plan through Congress, and “will take the time to get it right.” (Miller, 3/8)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: House GOP Healthcare Plan Divides Georgia Sixth District Candidates
The growing conservative revolt over the House GOP’s healthcare proposal has carved a dividing line for candidates for Georgia’s 6th District seat struggling over whether to embrace a plan Donald Trump supports or oppose it amid a backlash from conservatives, Democrats and industry groups. (Bluestein, 3/9)
TrendCT: American Health Care Act: Who Gains And Loses In Connecticut?
The Republican proposal to replace Obamacare has big implications for Connecticut residents who purchase individual health insurance plans, depending on different factors like age and income level. Young people with high incomes or who live in low-premium states like Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Washington, could receive larger assistance under the replacement plan, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Ba Tran, 3/8)
The CT Mirror: What The GOP Obamacare Replacement Bill Means For You And CT
There are big implications for Connecticut’s single biggest source of coverage. That would be Medicaid, which covers nearly 770,000 poor children and adults, and people with disabilities. Approximately 217,000 people – low-income adults without minor children – are covered by a portion of the state’s Medicaid program that was created by the Affordable Care Act. If you’re not among the one in five Connecticut residents covered by Medicaid, the program still has big implications for you as a taxpayer: Medicaid is the state’s largest source of federal funds, and the largest single line item in the state budget. (Levin Becker, 3/8)
The CT Mirror: Larson Joins Partisan Fight As GOP Struggles To Advance Health Care Bill
During a day of acrimonious partisanship over the future of America’s health care system, Rep. John Larson on Wednesday was among the Democrats who tried to alter and slow the progress of a bill that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The American Health Care Act was the subject of twin markups in the House Ways and Means Committee, of which Larson is a member, and the Energy and Commerce Committee. (Radelat, 3/8)
Nashville Tennessean: Opponents Sound Alarm Over Obamacare Replacement
Closer to home, the bill is sparking concerns from advocates for seniors and people with disabilities. Grace Smith, executive director of the Council on Aging of Middle Tennessee, said a provision that would allow insurers to charge older shoppers up to five times more than younger people is alarming. Seniors will make up more than one-fifth of the state's population in the coming years. (Fletcher, 3/8)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Tepid On Paul Ryan's Obamacare Repeal Plan
Gov. Scott Walker would not say Wednesday whether he supports House Speaker Paul Ryan's plan to replace Obamacare in its current form, repeatedly calling it "a work in progress" at a pair of stops. The governor and other Republicans for six years have railed against the Affordable Care Act, but Walker claimed repealing it and replacing it with Ryan's plan would not affect most people. (Spicuzza and Marley, 3/8)
