Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
The 'Can-I-Keep-My-Doctor' Question Rears Its Head Again
Stat: 'Can I Keep My Doctor?' The GOP's Turn To Answer The Question
Leaked older drafts of the GOP plan would have capped tax benefits for employer-based health insurance. If Republicans had made that change, putting the squeeze on employer coverage sooner or later, a half dozen experts told STAT that employer plans would likely start moving toward narrower health care provider networks to keep their costs down and stay under the cap. In other words, it would have extended the so-called “keep your doctor” problem to the much bigger employer market, which covers half of all Americans. The fallout could have been huge. (Scott, 3/8)
In other news —
Boston Globe: Another Savings Account To Worry About? You Might Get One With GOP Health Plan
In their newly unveiled plan to reshape the US health care system, House Republicans propose increasing the amount of money people can put into tax-free health savings accounts, part of a broader push to make individuals more responsible for their own medical spending, and less reliant on government. Think of it as a twist on your 401(k) retirement plan. You set up a tax-exempt investment fund, deposit your money, watch it grow, and then use the proceeds to cover all manner of health care expenses, from lab tests to prescription drugs. (Horowitz, 3/7)
The Washington Post Fact Checker: New Anti-Obamacare Ads Conflate The Exchanges With The Entire Health-Care System
With the debate over the GOP replacement for the Affordable Care Act at full boil, a Republican nonprofit entity controlled by allies of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has launched a big ad buy to remind people what’s wrong with the ACA in the first place. The 60-second spots target five Democrats running for reelection in 2018, as well as seeks to support six Republicans who face challenges or might be considered uncertain on how they would vote on a replacement bill. But as is often the case, the language of the ads leaves a misleading impression that the problems that afflict the ACA exchanges extend to the entire insurance market. (Kessler, 3/8)
WBUR: Key Obamacare Architect And A Former Insurer Assess The GOP Health Care Replacement Plan
The GOP finally unveiled its own health care reform package on Monday. The American Health Care Act would preserve some popular aspects of the health reform passed under President Obama, but the Republican plan would also make some sweeping changes. Key House committees are scheduled to vote on the new plan Wednesday. (Sundt, Chakrabarti and Bologna, 3/7)
NPR: GOP Cuts To Planned Parenthood Could Strand Patients, Directors Of Other Clinics Fear
Opponents of abortion rights have long argued that public funds for services like cancer screenings and contraception should go solely to health clinics that don't provide abortions. They've made "defunding Planned Parenthood" — or, to be more precise — blocking the organization from receiving funding through federal programs like Medicaid — a major goal. (McCammon, 3/7)
Marketplace: Who Scores The GOP's Revised Health Plan And Its Costs?
Republicans have unveiled their long-awaited bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. The GOP plan keeps many of the stipulations in place and changes others. But the real questions on peoples’ mind are "How much will it cost?" and "How many people will it cover?” Figuring out that scorecard out will fall to the Congressional Budget Office. (Allington, 3/7)
