Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: How Much Of Obamacare Will Remain In Trumpcare?
The Washington Post: Donald Trump Is About To Face A Rude Awakening Over Obamacare
After reiterating his promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, President-elect Donald Trump has indicated that he may keep two of the law’s most popular provisions. One is straightforward enough — children up to age 26 being allowed to stay on their parents’ plan. The other — preventing insurance companies from denying coverage because of preexisting conditions — offers a perfect illustration of why Trump and most of the other Republicans critics of Obamacare don’t understand the health insurance market. (Steven Pearlstein, 11/12)
Los Angeles Times: Trump Embraces The Cool Parts Of Obamacare — But Not The Part That Makes It Work
When it comes to healthcare, President-elect Donald Trump made it clear Friday that he’s all in favor of dessert but doesn’t want any Brussels sprouts. He said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that he’s not against all aspects of Obamacare. He’s in favor of the ban on insurers denying coverage to people with preexisting conditions, and he supports keeping kids on family policies until they turn 26. (David Lazarus, 11/11)
Forbes: Donald Trump Is Right: You Can Repeal Obamacare And Still Cover Everyone With Pre-Existing Conditions
Liberal tongues were wagging all over the internet on Friday, because Donald Trump promised to repeal Obamacare, while guaranteeing health insurance coverage to those with pre-existing conditions. They claim Trump’s goal is impossible. But the joke’s on them, because in this case, Donald Trump is right. (Avik Roy, 11/2)
Reuters: After U.S. Election, Retirement Security Heads For A Crash
Obamacare repeal ... might not seem like a retirement issue at first glance. But if Trump and Republican lawmakers make good on their promises to repeal the Affordable Care Act, millions of older Americans who fall short of Medicare’s eligibility age (65) likely will lose their health insurance. Hate Obamacare if you like, but it has hugely benefited millions of older low- and middle-income households. The Commonwealth Fund estimates that the percentage of uninsured Americans aged 50-64 fell to 9.1 percent this year, compared with 14 percent in 2013. That translates to 3.1 million previously uninsured people who now have health insurance. (Mark Miller, 11/11)
The Wall Street Journal: The GOP’s ObamaCare Strategy Pays Off
When the new Congress and President-elect Trump take office in January, Republicans will have a real chance to repeal President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. If they succeed, it will be the result of their carefully executed strategy to repeal the law and repeated congressional votes to do so. This approach was the subject of much derision from Democrats, but sticking to it has now put the Republicans in a position where they can reach their goal. (Tevi Troy and Lanhee J. Chen, 11/13)
The Health Care Blog: A Vote For Trumpcare
Mr. Trump won over the white working-class individuals in small rural areas. Sluggish economic recovery in these areas played a significant role in his unanticipated victory. It is these disenchanted individuals watching the American Dream slip through their fingers who voted for Mr. Trump. Those same people want the freedom to buy the insurance they need, and not what the bloated government shoves down their throats. 25% of the population lives in rural areas yet only 10% of the physicians practice in there. Physicians are leaving the system in droves, closing their patient panels, and not keeping up with demand, thereby threatening patient access in these isolated locales. (Niran Al-Agba, 11/12)
The New York Times: No, Birth Control Coverage Won’t Go Away
Hours after Tuesday’s election results were final, tweets, Facebook messages and articles began bouncing around the internet urging women to go seek birth control right away. “Get an IUD Before It’s Too Late,” advised a Daily Beast headline. “Here’s Why Everyone Is Saying to Get an IUD Today,” explained a popular New York Magazine piece. "My phone was ringing off the hook,” said Andrea Miller, the president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health, who said her organization heard from some anxious women, concerned that their birth control options might become quickly and severely limited. (Margot Sanger-Katz, 11/11)
Detroit Free Press: In Search Of IUDs: Life In Trump's America
On a normal day, Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan fields nine calls from women interested in long-acting birth control like the intrauterine device. Wednesday — the day after the presidential election — Planned Parenthood's call center booked 37 appointments for women seeking IUDs. By noon on Friday, Planned Parenthood centers across the state had booked 134 appointments for long-acting contraceptives, along with appointments for screenings, checkups and other routine care, about a hundred additional calls each day, in total. (Nancy Kaffer, 11/12)
