Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Playing Pitchman Behind The Scenes But Staying Out Of Limelight So Far On Repeal
The Wall Street Journal: Donald Trump Plays Background Role In Health-Care Battle
The course of Donald Trump’s presidency will be defined by his ability to seal a deal to rework the U.S. health-care system, but so far he has outsourced the job of hammering out the details to about a dozen Republican leaders and White House advisers while he serves in the background as a pitchman. (Radnofsky and Bender, 3/10)
The New York Times: Trump Keeps Low Profile After Praising Health Care Overhaul
President Trump praised House Republican leaders on Friday for their plan to overhaul the Affordable Care Act, but otherwise kept a conspicuously low profile, with a newfound silent treatment of the news media. The president’s meeting with House leaders came the day after Anthem, one of the nation’s largest health insurers, offered strong support for the Republican plan, which has been denounced by other providers and which conservatives have vowed to reject. (Thrush and Abelson, 3/10)
The Hill: Adviser: Trump Willing To Accept Improvements To Healthcare Proposal
Gary Cohn, President Trump’s chief economic adviser, said Sunday that Trump is open to negotiating with House conservatives who are demanding changes to the current GOP health care proposal. “The president has been very open and transparent on the issue,” Cohn told “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace. ... Republicans are demanding changes to the current ObamaCare repeal and replacement plan. Some demands include an end the expansion of Medicaid by 2018 instead of 2020, and the removal of insurance mandates that provide certain benefits such as maternity care. (Beavers, 3/12)
The Washington Post Fact Checker: President Trump, The King Of Flip-Flops
There is no rule that politicians must remain consistent in their policies. Circumstances change, both economically and politically, and a skillful politician certainly can adjust his or her positions accordingly. But politicians need to explain to voters why they changed their minds. At The Fact Checker, we award an Upside-Down Pinocchio when a politician shifts position on a policy without acknowledging that they did so. (Kessler, 3/13)
