Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'We're Not Finished Yet': Trump Touts Steps He's Taken To Chip Away At Health Law 'Piece By Piece'
The Hill: Trump: ObamaCare Being Wiped Out 'Piece By Piece'
President Trump argued Friday that ObamaCare is being “wiped out” in a “piece-by-piece” way despite the failure of the GOP Congress to repeal the law. Trump, speaking to the Conservative Political Action Conference Friday, pointed to a number of actions that Republicans have taken against the law, including repealing the individual mandate to buy health insurance as part of the tax-cut bill. (Sullivan, 2/23)
Bloomberg: Trump’s Obamacare Changes To Push Up Premiums, Report Projects
The Trump administration’s efforts to loosen health insurance rules will increase premiums for Obamacare plans by double-digit percentages in most states next year, according to a new analysis by the Urban Institute. Monthly payments for a traditional health insurance plan sold through Obamacare will go up by 18 percent, on average, in 43 states where there aren’t limits on less-comprehensive but less-expensive coverage the administration is calling for, according to the Washington-based policy group. (Tozzi, 2/26)
The Hill: Trump Calls Out McCain For ObamaCare Vote
President Trump on Friday called out Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), though not by name, for his vote against ObamaCare repeal. "Except for one senator, who came into a room at 3 o’clock in the morning and went like that, we would have had health care too, we would have had health care too, think of that," Trump told the Conservative Political Action Conference, imitating the thumbs down motion that McCain made during a late-night vote to pass a repeal measure. (Sullivan, 2/23)
And in other health law news —
The Hill: Health Chief To Meet With Idaho Governor On Controversial ObamaCare Plan
Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar will meet with Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (R) this weekend amid a controversial effort by Idaho's government to get around ObamaCare rules. The meeting, one of many one-on-one meetings with governors that Azar will have at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, will be a chance for Azar to speak with Idaho officials for the first time about the state's proposal. (Sullivan, 2/23)
Des Moines Register: Farm Bureau, Wellmark Would Skirt Obamacare Rules Under Iowa Legislation
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation could offer health insurance plans that don't comply with the federal Affordable Care Act under legislation advancing in the Iowa Legislature. The new coverage could offer relatively low premiums for young and healthy consumers, but people with pre-existing health problems could once again be charged more. It would be organized by Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield. (Pfannenstiel, 2/24)
California Healthline: Ding Dong! The Obamacare Tax Penalty Is(n’t) Dead
Rick, Patrick and Michael recently commented on Covered California’s Facebook page, urging others to ditch health insurance because: “No more fines or penalties!!! Trump took care of that!! Saved me 700 bucks this year!!!” “Trump removed the penalty for not having insurance.” “I’m pretty sure Trump abolished the illegal penalty.” They’re right — and wrong. (Bazar, 2/23)
The Hill: Democrats March Toward Single-Payer Health Care
Single-payer health care is gaining ground among Democrats. In a sign of the party’s move to the left on the issue, the Center for American Progress (CAP), a bastion of the Democratic establishment, this week released a plan that comes very close to a single-payer system.T hat’s a dramatic change from just two years ago, when Hillary Clinton — tied closely to CAP — dismissed Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) push of “Medicare for all” as politically unrealistic. (Sullivan, 2/25)
