Major Tax Cut For The Rich Along For The Ride If Health Law Is Repealed
For those in the top 0.1 percent of incomes, repealing one of the taxes meant to pay for the health law would mean $154,000 in annual savings.
Politico:
Obamacare Repeal Could Be Biggest 2017 Tax Cut For Wealthy
The big winners in Republican plans to repeal Obamacare are likely to be the rich. Rescinding the Affordable Care Act means not only taking away health coverage from some 20 million Americans. It also means scrapping two big tax increases Democrats imposed on the wealthy to help pay for it all. (Faler, 12/8)
The Hill:
Obama Health Chief Huddles With Dems To Fight ObamaCare Repeal
Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell met with congressional Democrats on Thursday to warn of the dangers of the Republican “repeal and delay” strategy for ObamaCare and discuss ways to fight back against repeal efforts. Burwell met with House Democrats in the morning and then Senate Democrats at their lunch in the afternoon. (Sullivan, 12/8)
The Associated Press:
New Coalition Will Push Back On Repeal Of Obama Health Law
Supporters of the 2010 health care law will launch a political coalition Friday to block its repeal. They're targeting Republican lawmakers whose constituents may now be at risk of losing health insurance. The initial goal is to stop Congress from repealing the law without simultaneously passing a replacement for some 20 million people covered through subsidized private health insurance and expanded Medicaid. Called "Protect Our Care," the group brings together organizations that helped pass the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare." (12/9)
In other national health care news —
The New York Times:
Cures Act Gains Bipartisan Support That Eluded Obama Health Law
In recent years, few major bills have commanded as much support as the 21st Century Cures Act, which sailed to passage by votes of 392 to 26 in the House on Nov. 30, and 94 to 5 in the Senate a week later. Once it is signed by President Obama on Tuesday, as the White House has said it will be, the law will allow for money to be pumped into biomedical research and speed the approval of new drugs and medical devices. It also includes provisions to improve mental health care and combat opioid abuse. (Pear, 12/8)
Stat:
Former Insys Execs Charged In Nationwide Conspiracy
The former chief executive of Insys Therapeutics and several other former executives were arrested Thursday on federal charges of conspiring to bribe doctors to prescribe a prescription version of the potent opioid fentanyl. The painkiller, called Subsys, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for cancer patients who suffer from intense bouts of pain that are not controlled by other opioid medications. In exchange for bribes and kickbacks offered by Insys employees, several doctors wrote large numbers of Subsys prescriptions for patients who did not have cancer, prosecutors said. (Armstrong, 12/8)