Trump Open To Preserving Most Popular Parts Of Health Law
Donald Trump says the ban on insurers denying coverage to people who are sick and the provision allowing young adults to stay on their parents coverage are "the strongest assets" of the Affordable Care Act.
The Wall Street Journal:
Donald Trump, In Exclusive Interview, Tells WSJ He Is Willing To Keep Parts Of Obama Health Law
President-elect Donald Trump said he would consider leaving in place certain parts of the Affordable Care Act, an indication of possible compromise after a campaign in which he pledged repeatedly to repeal the 2010 health-care law. In his first interview since his election earlier this week, Mr. Trump said one priority was moving “quickly” on President Barack Obama’s signature health initiative, which Mr. Trump said has become so unworkable and expensive that “you can’t use it.” Yet, Mr. Trump also showed a willingness to preserve at least two provisions of the law after Mr. Obama asked him to reconsider repealing it during their meeting at the White House on Thursday. (Langley and Baker, 11/11)
Politico:
GOP Feuds Over How To Kill Obamacare
For some Republicans, obliteration of Obamacare can’t come soon enough. Others want a gradual phaseout, fearing both the political and practical consequences of throwing 20 million Americans off their health plans virtually overnight. And President-elect Donald Trump, who vowed to repeal and replace “the disastrous” Obamacare, sent mixed signals Friday about how he will proceed. (Haberkorn, 11/11)
The Wall Street Journal:
Paul Ryan’s Comments Appear To Put Medicare In Play For 2017
Are Republicans, now in full control of the government, gearing up for a fight over Medicare as well the Affordable Care Act? Remarks by Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan that the two are entwined raised the prospect that the popular seniors’ health program may be on the table. “Obamacare rewrote Medicare, rewrote Medicaid, so if you’re going to repeal and replace Obamacare, you have to address those issues as well,” Mr. Ryan said in a Fox News Channel interview Thursday night. (Radnofsky, 11/11)
The New York Times:
U.S. Consumers Will Want Trump, Congress To Take On Drug Prices
Americans' growing alarm over rising prescription drug costs will pressure a new U.S. administration and Congress to take action on pharmaceutical pricing, industry executives and healthcare experts say. Drugmaker stocks, battered in recent months, soared this week after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's victory. (Beasley and Clarke, 11/11)
Stat:
At HHS, President-Elect Donald Trump Could Tap These Allies
There are so many unknowns about how President-elect Donald Trump will change health policy. But one early tell will be who he taps to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. A lot of names are floating around right now, and initial speculation can seem ill-conceived in hindsight; we never had HHS Secretary Tom Daschle under President Obama, after all. Nevertheless, here are possible contenders for the most powerful position in health policy, according to early and often anonymously sourced reports. (Scott, 11/14)