Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
What's In The Senate Health Plan? Medicaid Changes, Preexisting Conditions, Tax Cuts And More
The Washington Post: Senate Republicans Set To Release Health-Care Bill, But Divisions Remain
Senate Republicans on Thursday plan to release a health-care bill that would curtail federal Medicaid funding, repeal taxes on the wealthy and eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood as part of an effort to fulfill a years-long promise to undo Barack Obama’s signature health-care law. The bill is an attempt to strike a compromise between existing law and a bill passed by the House in May as Republicans struggle to advance their vision for the country’s health-care system even though they now control both chambers of Congress and the White House. The Senate proposal largely mirrors the House measure with significant differences, according to a discussion draft circulating Wednesday among aides and lobbyists. (Winfield Cunningham, Eilperin and Sullivan, 6/21)
The Associated Press: AP Sources: Senate GOP Health Bill Would Reshape Obama Law
After weeks of closed-door meetings that angered Democrats and some Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell planned to release the proposal Thursday. The package represents McConnell's attempt to quell criticism by party moderates and conservatives and win the support he needs in a vote he hopes to stage next week. In a departure from the version the House approved last month, which President Donald Trump privately called "mean," the Senate plan would drop the House's waivers allowing states to let insurers boost premiums on some people with pre-existing conditions. It would also largely retain the subsidies Obama provided to help millions buy insurance, which are pegged mostly to people's incomes and the premiums they pay. (Fram and Alonso-Zaldivar, 6/22)
Politico: What's In The Senate's Secret Obamacare Repeal Bill
Senate Republicans plan to release the draft at approximately 11 a.m. Thursday and hold a vote at the end of next week. Key parts could change as Republicans negotiate final details and try to come up with 50 votes they need to pass the bill. There are also unresolved questions about how much of the bill can be squeezed through the Senate’s strict budget rules governing the fast-track procedure called reconciliation that the GOP is using to avoid a filibuster. (Haberkorn, 6/21)
Los Angeles Times: Senate Set To Unveil Secretive Obamacare Repeal Bill, With A Vote Likely Next Week
McConnell hopes to call a vote on the measure next week, all but daring Republican holdouts to oppose it and prolong what has already been a painstaking process to advance their promise to do away with Obamacare. “It will not be the best possible bill; it will be the best bill possible,” Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas said as he headed into a closed-door meeting. “We’ve been in the backseat of Thelma and Louise’s convertible for quite a while, and we’re getting pretty close to the canyon. It’s time for us to get out of the damn car.” (Levey and Mascaro, 6/22)
The Wall Street Journal: How The Senate Health Bill Likely Differs From House Bill, Obamacare
As the outlines of the Senate health bill come into focus with a vote expected next week, it is possible to see how the Senate approach may diverge from the House-passed version and also from the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The details will become clearer when the Senate bill is officially released Thursday, but some elements are already apparent, according to people familiar with the drafting of the bill. (Armour, 6/21)
The Hill: Five Things To Watch In Senate GOP’s ObamaCare Repeal Bill
The House-passed healthcare bill would end extra Medicaid expansion dollars in 2020, but some senators have pushed for a longer transition. Leadership recently proposed a three-year transition beginning in 2020, but a contingent of moderate senators is advocating for a seven-year phaseout. Two lobbyists told The Hill that the phase-out in the draft is likely to be over three years, but that timeline could be increased to five years next week if necessary to garner the support of more moderates. And when asked about a three- and seven-year phaseout, Sen. John Thune (S.D.) — the Senate’s No. 3 Republican — said it would be closer to the latter. (Roubein, 6/22)
Politico: McConnell Tries To Split The Difference On Protections For Sickest Americans
Senate Republican leaders racing to finalize their health care bill want to preserve Obamacare’s central protections for people with pre-existing conditions to avoid the firestorm that nearly derailed the House’s repeal effort a few months ago. But Senate Leader Mitch McConnell can’t afford a conservative rebellion as he attempts to ram through an Obamacare repeal bill before the July 4th recess. (Cancryn, 6/21)
Bloomberg: Senate GOP Health Bill To Break With House Bill On Key Points
As in the House bill, states could receive waivers of some of Obamacare’s consumer protections including provision of “essential health benefits.” However, unlike the House bill, they couldn’t waive them for people with pre-existing health conditions. On abortion, the Senate bill, like the House bill, would ban funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. However, the measure won’t include abortion restrictions on the tax credits used in the insurance exchanges after the Senate parliamentarian ruled against their inclusion. Senate leaders are trying to work out an alternative approach. (Litvan, Kapur, 6/22)
Modern Healthcare: 7 Questions About The Senate Bill To Repeal And Replace The ACA
No one other than Senate GOP leaders knows the details of their bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. But it's certain the bill would have a seismic impact on patients, providers and insurers if enacted. Senate Republicans would have to rewrite their bill if the Congressional Budget Office and the Senate parliamentarian say it doesn't meet budget savings targets necessary to pass the bill with a bare majority. The CBO score is expected early next week. (Lee, 6/21)
Kaiser Health News: Meet The Republican Men Secretly Reshaping Your Health Care
Who are the GOP senators working on the American Health Care Act behind closed doors? You’ve likely heard they are all white men chosen by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Here are some of their vital stats that may influence the outcome. (6/21)
The New York Times Fact Check: Examining Mitch McConnell’s Claims On Health Care Overhaul
The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, made a vigorous and urgent argument this week to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Speaking on the Senate floor Monday and Tuesday, he argued that drafting a replacement bill behind closed doors is not unusual, and discussed various criticisms of Obamacare.Here is an assessment. (Qiu, 6/21)
