Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
What Made It Into Congress' Sweeping Spending Plan
The New York Times: In Likely Spending Plan, Congress Readies Blows To Obama’s Health Care Law
The legislation will also suspend a tax on medical devices for two years. The device tax, which took effect in 2013, will be suspended through 2017. Congress also agreed to suspend for one year a tax on health insurance providers. The tax applies to insurance purchased by individuals, families and many businesses, as well as to private plans that manage care for millions of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. (Pear, 12/16)
The Associated Press: Led By GOP, House Poised To Renew Over $600B In Tax Cuts
Although House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was leading a Democratic charge against the tax measure, GOP leaders seemed certain to push it through the chamber Thursday. That would set the stage for House passage Friday. (Fram, 12/17)
CNN: What's In The 2,000-Page Bill Congress Dropped In The Middle Of The Night?
Republicans have tried to repeal Obamacare and have it overturned in the courts -- to no avail. So in an era of divided government, the best the GOP could hope for was a compromise measure to chip away at it. The spending bill would suspend the implementation of two key Obamacare-related taxes for two years. (Berman, Sloan, Kopan and Barrett, 12/16)
Politico: 2,200 Pages, $1.8 Trillion, Dead Of Night
Say what you will about past efforts to dismantle Obamacare, there was broad bipartisan agreement to delay or pause three major taxes in the Democratic health care law. The two-year pauses on the Cadillac tax and medical device tax, along with a one-year break in the health insurance tax, will subtract about $35 billion in funding for the ACA. (Becker, 12/16)
The Washington Post: Here’s What Made It Into Congress’ Big Spending And Tax Bills
The $1.1 trillion spending bill is packed with policy riders that will upset or excite Democrats, Republicans and various special interest groups. Leaders also released a $650 billion tax package that will extend nearly 50 tax breaks for businesses and individuals and stall portions of the Affordable Care Act. (DeBonis and Snell, 12/16)
NBC News: House Democrats Have Concerns Over Details In Trillion-Dollar Spending Deal
House Democrats are raising concerns about the deal struck late Tuesday night on a $1.1 trillion dollar spending bill, legislation that would avert a government shutdown and fund government through October of 2016. ... The Affordable Care Act will also be impacted by these two deals. [House Speaker Paul] Ryan announced tonight the Omnibus will include delaying a provision in the ACA — known as the "Cadillac tax," a tax on high-cost healthcare plans — for two years. And in the tax extender package, there will be a two-year suspension of the medical device tax. (Moe and Thorp, 12/16)
In other Capitol Hill news -
The Associated Press: House Delays Vote Targeting Planned Parenthood, Health Law
Republican leaders have decided to delay until January a House vote to unravel President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul and block federal money for Planned Parenthood, hoping to increase attention on their drive against two of conservatives’ favorite targets. The measure has already cleared the Senate, and House passage seems assured. (Fram, 12/16)
