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Republicans in Congress are so eager to repeal the federal health law that some have vowed to get a bill to President-elect Donald Trump’s desk on the day he takes the oath of office. “We will move right after the first of the year on an Obamacare repeal resolution,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters at a news conference Monday. But could lawmakers introduce, pass and get a repeal measure to the new president in the 17 days between Jan. 3, when they convene, and Inauguration Day, Jan. 20? Not likely, say budget experts. (Rovner, 12/14)

Conservative lawmakers and advocacy groups plan to cut congressional GOP leaders some slack as they craft a budget to repeal Obamacare. Hard-liners torpedoed a fiscal 2017 budget earlier this year because it didn’t cut spending sufficiently, but they look likely to hold their fire in January. The budget resolution that House and Senate Republicans will unveil early next year will include reconciliation instructions to fast track repeal of the 2010 health law but is otherwise expected to be relatively bare-bones. (Weyl, 12/13)

GOP lawmakers are looking beyond the repeal of the 2010 health care law and crafting strategy to tackle obstacles that may get in the way of replacing the law, even with Republicans in control of both Congress and the White House. One approach under consideration is to create a special fund where savings from getting rid of the health care law could be banked and later used to pay for a replacement for the law, people familiar with lawmaker and staff discussions said. (Krawzak, 12/13)

Now comes a warning from the Kaiser Family Foundation that a complete repeal of the Affordable Care Act would have a dire financial impact on the Medicare program for seniors. A full repeal of Obamacare would reverse the progress made in slowing the rate of growth of Medicare Part A spending on hospital care and accelerate the estimated long-term insolvency of the trust fund, according to the report released on Tuesday. (Pianin, 12/14)

Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee are seeking advice from GOP governors about what changes they want to Medicaid. The members are planning a roundtable discussion for next month to discuss how to give states more flexibility, ensure parity across different programs and whether successful state programs could be replicated in other parts of the country. (McIntire, 12/13)

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) is ramping up pressure on Republicans in Congress to aggressively and immediately pursue a repeal of ObamaCare, despite any politically damaging effects. Scott said he made the case for a swift, full repeal of the healthcare law during a meeting Tuesday with Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. (Ferris, 12/13)