McConnell Promised Collins Health Bills Would Pass, But No One Else Seems Eager To Uphold That Deal
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) threw her support behind the Republican tax bill on the agreement that the Senate would take up the bipartisan health legislation that is aimed at stabilizing the marketplace. But even though she extracted the promise from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the rest of the GOP leadership isn't ready to uphold the bargain.
Politico:
Collins' Obamacare Deal Faces Moment Of Truth
Sen. Susan Collins is barreling toward yet another health care showdown with her own party. But this time, she might not have the leverage to get what she wants. Republicans who watched Collins lead the rebellion over the GOP’s Obamacare repeal effort just three months ago are playing tough on yet another high-stakes bill, wagering they can do without the Maine moderate’s swing vote and still claim a narrow year-end legislative win on tax reform. (Cancryn, 12/8)
Bloomberg:
Senator’s Shaky Obamacare Deal Poses Challenge For Tax Overhaul
The three biggest stories in Washington -- a broad overhaul of the U.S. tax structure, a health-care makeover and a spending bill that would avert a government shutdown -- all depend, more or less, on one moderate Republican senator who says she’s got a deal that could deliver them all. The only trouble is, Senator Susan Collins’s deal could unravel fast, putting the Maine lawmaker and her party in a tight spot as GOP leaders seek a major policy win in 2017. (Kapur, 12/8)
In other national health care news —
The Hill:
AARP: Congress Must Prevent 'Sudden Cut' To Medicare In 2018
The AARP is urging House and Senate leaders to waive congressional rules so the Republican tax bill doesn't trigger deep cuts to Medicare. If Republicans pass their tax bill, which would add an estimated $1 trillion to the federal deficit, congressional “pay-as-you-go” rules would require an immediate $150 billion in mandatory spending cuts to offset the impact. ... Under the bill, according to the Congressional Budget Office, Medicare would be faced with a $25 billion cut in fiscal 2018. (Weixel, 12/7)
The Hill:
Bipartisan Group Of Senators Seek To Block Trump Cuts To Drug Discount Program
Six senators, including three Republicans, are asking GOP leadership to block a Trump administration rule that slashes funding for a federal drug discount program. The program, called 340B, requires drug companies give discounts to health-care organizations that serve high volumes of low-income . (Hellmann, 12/7)
CQ:
Senators Press Leadership On Children's Health
An increasing number of senators are raising concerns with leadership over delays in funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program since state officials are anxious because a long-term solution still has not been found. Earlier this week, West Virginia GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito penned a letter to Senate Finance Chairman Orrin G. Hatch about the state of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Virginia Democratic senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warnerwrote a joint letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Ryan expressing their concerns about the lack of movement on funding renewal as well. (Raman, 12/7)
Modern Healthcare:
CMS Could Demand CSR Repayments From Insurers If Congress Doesn't Act
Insurers may be on the hook to pay back the government for funds they have already spent on low-income enrollees through 2017. It's still not clear whether Congress will appropriate cost-sharing reduction payments, as lawmakers race toward a short-term spending agreement before Christmas. This means insurers may have to return any surplus they used to cover CSR costs since the Trump administration cut off the payments in October. An October bulletin from the CMS said insurers would be on the hook for any "overpayments" of CSRs for 2016, but that the agency wouldn't pay any shortfalls. This could be the case for 2017, according to a healthcare attorney who follows the CMS' regulatory actions closely. (Luthi, 12/7)