‘We’ll Be Judged In The Election’: GOP Frets Over Repeal Plans
Leaked audio from the congressional Republican's retreat in Philadelphia reveals worry among lawmakers on how to go about dismantling and replacing the health law. Meanwhile, this week the GOP will begin tackling pre-existing conditions and Medicaid among other parts of the health law in a string of hearings.
The New York Times:
In Private, Republican Lawmakers Agonize Over Health Law Repeal
Congressional Republicans, meeting behind closed doors this week in Philadelphia, expressed grave concerns about dismantling the Affordable Care Act on the urgent timetable demanded by President Trump, fretting that, among other things, they could wreck insurance markets and be saddled with a politically disastrous “Trumpcare.” An audio recording of a session at their annual retreat, obtained by The New York Times, shows Republicans in disarray, far from agreement on health policy, and still searching for something to replace former President Barack Obama’s health care law. (Pear and Kaplan, 1/27)
The Washington Post:
Behind Closed Doors, Republican Lawmakers Fret About How To Repeal Obamacare
The recording reveals a GOP that appears to be filled with doubts about how to make good on a long-standing promise to get rid of Obamacare without explicit guidance from President Trump or his administration. The thorny issues with which lawmakers grapple on the tape — including who may end up either losing coverage or paying more under a revamped system — highlight the financial and political challenges that flow from upending the current law. (DeBonis, 1/27)
Politico Pro:
Divided GOP Starts Assembling Slivers Of An Obamacare Replacement
Congressional Republicans still deeply divided on how to replace Obamacare will try to buy themselves some time this week by debating a set of narrow bills addressing specific parts of the health system and holding public sessions to rail against what they view as the law’s failings. Republicans will start with one of the most controversial issues in the debate over Obamacare: how to cover people with pre-existing conditions. They'll also address tightening Medicaid eligibility rules — including to restrict lottery winners from participating in the entitlement — and changing some Obamacare rules before the law is repealed. At best, these elements would constitute important slivers of a complete repeal and replace plan. (Haberkorn, 1/30)
The Associated Press:
AP-NORC Poll: Broad Worries About Potential Health Care Loss
Though "Obamacare" still divides Americans, a majority worry that many will lose coverage if the 2010 law is repealed in the nation's long-running political standoff over health care. A new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 56 percent of U.S. adults are "extremely" or "very" concerned that many will lose health insurance if the health overhaul is repealed. That includes more than 8 in 10 Democrats, nearly half of independents, and more than 1 in 5 Republicans. Another 45 percent of Republicans say they're "somewhat" concerned. (Alonso-Zaldivar and Swanson, 1/27)
And in other national health care news —
The Associated Press:
Senate Panel To Vote On Trump's Pick For Health Secretary
Republicans have scheduled a Tuesday vote by the Senate Finance Committee on President Donald Trump's nominee for health secretary. Trump's pick is GOP Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, and the Republican-run committee is expected to back Price along party lines. In his new post, Price will help lead the GOP drive to scrap President Barack Obama's health care law and enact still-uncertain Republican plans to replace it. (1/29)
Stat:
Top Academics Lash Out At Trump's 'Un-American' Immigration Ban
Over 4,000 academics, including 25 Nobel laureates, have signed a petition denouncing an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that bars people from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the US. Under the order, signed Friday, nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen are prohibited from entering the US for at least 90 days, regardless of whether they have green cards or visas. (Garde, 1/28)
The New York Times:
Trump’s First Week: Misfires, Crossed Wires, And A Satisfied Smile
If other new occupants of the White House wanted to be judged by their first 100 days in office, President Trump seems intent to be judged by his first 100 hours. No president in modern times, if ever, has started with such a flurry of initiatives on so many fronts in such short order. The action-oriented approach reflected a businessman’s idea of how government should work: Issue orders and get it done. But while the rapid-fire succession of directives on health care, trade, abortion, the environment, immigration, national security, housing and other areas cheered Americans who want Mr. Trump to shake up Washington, it also revealed a sometimes unruly process that may or may not achieve the goals he has outlined. (Savage, Baker and Haberman, 1/27)
The New York Times:
Anti-Abortion Marchers Draw Inspiration From An Unlikely Source
Droves of men, women and children opposing abortion swarmed the National Mall on Friday in a demonstration that served not only as a rallying cry for their movement, but as a peaceful act of support for the new president they have embraced as their improbable champion. The crowd gathered just a few blocks from where hundreds of thousands of women marched last weekend to protest President Trump — a striking and symbolic juxtaposition for a country cleaved by its most recent election. (Peters and Alcindor, 1/27)
Modern Healthcare:
Aetna's Antitrust Defeat May Signal The End Of Health Insurance Mega-Mergers
The consolidation among the biggest health insurance players that seemed so inevitable not long ago may fizzle into a series of smaller deals aimed at growing market share in Medicare and Medicaid plans. Aetna's $37 billion play for Humana, announced 19 months ago, appeared to be on its deathbed last week. A federal judge issued an order blocking the transaction, agreeing with the U.S. Justice Department's arguments that allowing it to happen would harm consumers in the Medicare Advantage and individual insurance markets. (Livingston, 1/28)
The New York Times:
After Mastectomies, An Unexpected Blow: Numb New Breasts
After learning she had a high genetic risk for breast cancer, Dane’e McCree, like a growing number of women, decided to have her breasts removed. Her doctor assured her that reconstructive surgery would spare her nipples and leave her with natural-looking breasts. It did. But while Ms. McCree’s rebuilt chest may resemble natural breasts, it is now completely numb. Her nipples lack any feeling. She cannot sense the slightest touch of her breasts, perceive warmth or cold, feel an itch if she has a rash or pain if she bangs into a door. And no one warned her. (Rabin, 1/29)