‘We’re Stuck’: States Scramble To Shore Up Exchanges As Political Gridlock Halts Federal Movement On Health Law
Many lawmakers are unwilling to tackle any changes to the health law in such a politically charged year, which is leaving states to do the policy work on making sure their exchanges are able to hold up under the weight of higher premiums. Meanwhile, the topic is likely to play a role in the upcoming elections.
Modern Healthcare:
Beyond Talking Points: Is Congress Moving Past The ACA?
The policy work on the individual market has shifted to states while Congress has largely moved on to the Trump administration's priority list, such as drug pricing, broader transparency issues and rural healthcare access, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle still pay lip service to their positions on Obamacare. With the individual mandate effectively gone and the Trump administration pushing short-term plans, Democrats are blasting Republicans for this year's wave of rate hikes. Polling is in their favor: 50% approve of the ACA compared to 43% disapproving, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll this month. (Luthi, 5/22)
Los Angeles Times:
Tax Bill And Obamacare Repeal Are Potent Issues In California Congressional Races, Poll Shows
With Democrats angling to win back control of the U.S. House, the new tax law and the failed attempt to repeal Obamacare may prove to be important campaign flashpoints against California Republicans, according to a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll. Sixty percent of registered voters statewide approved of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The support was highest among Democrats and people who disapprove of President Trump, and concentrated in urban and coastal areas — which happen to be regions where there are several competitive congressional races. (Mai-Duc, 5/23)
Des Moines Register:
Democrat Andy McGuire Highlights Health Care In Gubernatorial Run
[Andy] McGuire said Democrats have a responsibility to say that health care is a right, not a privilege. She said as governor, she would reverse the privatization of Medicaid. "Six-hundred-thousand of our citizens are having their health care put at risk,” she said at a late April forum hosted by the Dallas County Democrats, referencing the 600,000 poor and disabled Iowans who use Medicaid. "That’s not right. We’ve got to bring this back into the state. I know how to do that. We’ve got to make sure patients are taken care of and they’re at the center. We’ve got to make sure that providers are being paid, which they’re not right now. And we have to make sure we’re fiscally responsible." (Pfannenstiel, 5/22)
The Associated Press:
Maryland Candidates To Endorse ACA Down Payment Plan
Democratic candidates for governor of Maryland are scheduled to endorse a plan to help protect the Affordable Care Act in Maryland. The Maryland Health Care for All Coalition is announcing the candidates who support the plan on Wednesday at a news conference in Baltimore. The plan would create an individual health care mandate at the state level. The proposal differs from the federal mandate that is set to expire, because the Maryland plan would give people the option of putting a down payment on health insurance, instead of paying a penalty if they don’t have it. (5/23)
