Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Verma Says Administration Is 'Working On' Plan To Replace Obamacare
The Hill: Trump Health Chief: Officials Actively 'Working On' ObamaCare Replacement Plan
A top Trump health administrator on Thursday said that officials are actively “working on” a plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare, which has remained a priority for President Trump even as many congressional Republicans look to move on. Trump has long promised a superior plan to replace ObamaCare and has drawn pushback from Democrats for never actually revealing a plan of his own. (Sullivan, 8/15)
Modern Healthcare: 700,000 Americans Lost Health Insurance In 2017
About 700,000 fewer people were enrolled in health insurance coverage in 2017 compared with the year before, marking the first year that the uninsured rate has increased since the major Affordable Care Act reforms took effect, according to a study published Thursday. The Urban Institute study, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found that the uninsured rate increased 0.2 percentage points from 2016 to 2017 to 10.2% of people under age 65, despite a strong economy and enrollment gains in the employer-sponsored insurance market. (Livingston, 8/15)
Miami Herald: Obamacare Enrollment Is Up In Florida.
Florida’s low-income population is signing up in greater numbers for health insurance using the Affordable Care Act exchange in the last year, led by South Florida counties. But those who don’t get government subsidies are still fleeing the market, according to a pair of reports released this week by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or CMS, raising concerns among healthcare experts. (Conarck, 8/16)
Kaiser Health News: Health Plan’s ‘Cadillac Tax’ May Finally Be Running Out Of Gas
The tax on generous health plans — originally envisioned as a way to help pay for the ACA and change consumers’ behavior — has never been implemented, and Congress is considering repeal. (Rovner, 8/16)
Modern Healthcare: Quality Ratings To Be Published For ACA Health Insurance Plans
HealthCare.gov and the state Obamacare exchange websites will start publishing quality star ratings for insurance plans, the agency announced Thursday. The Trump administration said the move is part of its drive toward more transparency and better quality in the healthcare system, and will help people choose a valuable insurance plan. (Luthi, 8/15)
