Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Women's Health Services Would Be Cut Under Proposed Republican Plan
The Associated Press: House GOP Health Bill Would Cut Women’s Services
Women seeking abortions and some basic health services, including prenatal care, contraception and cancer screenings, would face restrictions and struggle to pay for some of that medical care under the House Republicans’ proposed bill. The legislation, which would replace much of former President Barack Obama’s health law, was approved by two House committees on Thursday. (Jalonick, 3/10)
The New York Times: Republican Health Plan Could End Insurance Coverage Of Abortion
“There’s no reason insurers would sell any plans that cover abortion because everyone would be wanting to use these tax credits,” said Adam Sonfield, a senior policy manager for the Guttmacher Institute, a research center that works to promote access to abortion. (Zernike, 3/10)
WBUR: Here's What GOP Bill Would (And Wouldn't) Change For Women's Health Care
The Affordable Care Act changed women's health care in some big ways: It stopped insurance companies from charging women extra, forced insurers to cover maternity care and contraceptives and allowed many women to get those contraceptives (as well as a variety of preventive services, like Pap smears and mammograms) at zero cost. Now Republicans have the opportunity to repeal that law, also known as Obamacare. But that doesn't mean all those things will go away. In fact, many will remain. (Kurtzleben, 3/10)
In other news about the American Health Care Act —
The Associated Press: Tax Credits Work Differently In ‘Obamacare’ And GOP Plan
Republicans hate “Obamacare,” so House GOP leaders freak out whenever their health care bill is compared to President Barack Obama’s law. But one reason some conservatives are branding the bill “Obamacare Lite” comes down to the tax credits to help consumers buy insurance. Both tax credits target people who don’t get health insurance from their employer or from the government. They are both available to people even if they don’t make enough money to owe any federal income tax. And they are both entitlement programs — if you meet the criteria, you are entitled to the benefit. (Ohlemacher, 3/11)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: GOP Health Care Plan Shifts Benefits Toward Higher-Income People
Almost 200,000 people in Wisconsin gained insurance coverage when the ACA took effect, most of them with very low or relatively low incomes — such as people making $14 an hour, or about $29,000 a year. Many of them eventually stand to lose their health insurance under the Republican plan that was released Monday. And others who are older and who have relatively low incomes are likely to end up paying more for less coverage. But the plan would benefit people with higher incomes who don’t receive health insurance through an employer and who haven’t been eligible for the subsidies available through the Affordable Care Act. (Boulton, 3/11)
CQ Roll Call: GOP Moves On Health Accounts Are Just The First Step On Savings
House GOP proposals to expand health savings accounts in the Obamacare replacement package are helping to set the stage for a broader push to spur thrift and investment by families as part of a sweeping tax overhaul. The House Republican legislation to partially repeal the 2010 health care law would increase contribution limits for HSAs and allows these accounts to be used to buy over-the-counter drugs. While sweeteners to encourage savings are generally popular, the fate of these proposals are tied to a repeal-and-replace package that so far has drawn criticism from conservative groups and lawmakers. (Ota, 3/13)
