Compromise On Health Care Plan Woos Conservatives, But Silence From Moderates Is Deafening
Few moderates have said anything about the new measure beyond that they haven't seen the text yet. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump promises his health plan will have premiums "tumbling down" even as health care moves to the back burner for Congress, a study finds getting rid of subsidies may cost government billions, and many Republican voters still want the Affordable Care Act repealed.
Politico:
Moderates Mum On Repeal Bill Changes That Would Strip Consumer Protections
While hardline House conservatives are falling in line behind the latest Republican Obamacare repeal bill, there's ominous silence from most moderates whose support is also essential to getting the measure passed in the House. The latest version would allow states to opt out of several key Obamacare protections, allowing insurers to charge older and sicker people more than younger and healthier people, according to a summary obtained by POLITICO. So far, none of the moderates who opposed an earlier repeal bill have publicly committed to supporting the latest version. (Haberkorn, Dawsey and Cancryn, 4/24)
Politico:
Trump Pledges Premiums Will 'Start Tumbling Down' Under His Health Care Plan
President Donald Trump on Monday pledged that his yet-to-be-unveiled health care plan will cause premiums to “start tumbling down” and produce “real” health care. “If our healthcare plan is approved, you will see real healthcare and premiums will start tumbling down,” Trump said on Twitter. “ObamaCare is in a death spiral!” (Conway, 4/24)
The Wall Street Journal:
Shutdown Threat Moves GOP Health Debate To Back Burner
Congress’s focus on averting a government shutdown this week is likely to push the House GOP debate over their health-care bill to the back burner for now, Republican lawmakers and aides said. President Donald Trump had pressed House Republicans last week to vote as quickly as possible on a modified version of their health bill, which House leaders pulled from the floor last month when it became clear it didn’t have enough support to pass the chamber. (Peterson, 4/24)
The Associated Press:
Study: Trump's Hardball Tactic On Health Care May Backfire
Going into this week's federal budget battle, the White House toyed with a hardball tactic to force congressional Democrats to negotiate on President Donald Trump's priorities. They just might eliminate billions of dollars in disputed "Obamacare" subsidies. But a study out Tuesday from a nonpartisan group suggests that could backfire. Stopping the Affordable Care Act payments at issue may actually wind up costing the federal government billions more than it would save. (4/25)
Politico Pro:
Politico-Harvard Poll: Republicans Can't Move Beyond Obamacare Repeal
While 60 percent of Americans want Republicans either to work with Democrats to fix the Affordable Care Act or move on, just as many Republicans want their party to repeal the health care law entirely or try again on a replacement plan, according to a new POLITICO-Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health poll. (Millman, 4/25)
In other national health care news —
The Washington Post:
Supreme Court To Decide Whether Defendants Are Entitled To A Mental-Health Expert On Their Side
The Supreme Court’s liberals and conservatives seemed to disagree Monday on whether an Alabama inmate was entitled to a mental-health expert who would be on his side in fighting the state’s attempt to sentence him to death. The justices were examining James McWilliams’s 1986 death sentence and an even older Supreme Court precedent. But their decision will be immediately relevant. The Arkansas Supreme Court recently stayed the execution of two men on its death row until the justices decide McWilliams v. Dunn. (Barnes, 4/24)
The Wall Street Journal:
Express Scripts Says It Will Lose Anthem, Its Biggest Customer, In 2020
Express Scripts Holding Co. said Monday it doesn’t expect Anthem Inc., its biggest customer, to extend a pharmacy-benefits management agreement slated to expire at the end of 2019. The nation’s largest pharmacy-benefits manager said it pledged $1 billion a year in price concessions through 2019 if Anthem would extend the current deal beyond the current expiration date. But Express Scripts officials said recent conversations with Anthem indicate the health insurer wants to move in a different direction. Anthem has issued a request for proposals seeking a new pharmacy-benefits manager once the current agreement expires, Express Scripts said. (Tweh, 4/24)
Stat:
Sanofi Sues Mylan Over Alleged Anti-Competitive Marketing Of EpiPen
In the latest flap over EpiPen, Sanofi filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging that Mylan violated antitrust law by taking several steps to thwart its rival from gaining any traction in the marketplace. Sanofi used to sell Auvi-Q, a different type of auto-injector that provides voice instructions and resembles a deck of cards. Both EpiPen and Auvi-Q provide life-saving doses of epinephrine to individuals suffering from severe allergic reactions. However, Sanofi voluntarily withdrew its device in October 2015 over problems with dosing and the device is now sold by another company called Kaleo. (Swetlitz and Silverman, 4/24)