Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Election Results Likely To Impact Medicaid Expansion Debate
The campaign for Kentucky's next governor ends Tuesday as voters elect someone to replace a popular two-term Democratic governor in a race that has turned on health insurance for 500,000 people and public preschool options. Republican Matt Bevin, Democrat Jack Conway and independent Drew Curtis have contrasted sharply in a race watched closely for its proximity to the 2016 presidential election and for its competitiveness in one of the nation's last two-party states. (Beam, 11/3)
Bevin, for instance, once voiced skepticism of early-childhood education. But he later backtracked and said suggestions that he didn鈥檛 support early-childhood education were 鈥渁bsolute bunk.鈥 Bevin opened his campaign by pledging to reverse Medicaid expansion in the state, a stance from which he has since repeatedly tried to step away. (Robillard, 11/2)
The race has also turned into a referendum on ObamaCare, and the results could affect the health insurance of more than half a million people. Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, also retiring because of term limits, used an executive order to expand the state's Medicaid program to cover an additional 400,000 Kentucky residents and create a health exchange. And more than 100,000 residents have purchased discounted health plans with the help of federal subsidies. (Weber, 11/2)
Republicans now hold a 21-19 edge in the state Senate. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat heading into the last two years of his administration, hopes to take over the chamber in order to balance the big GOP majority in the House of Delegates. The outcome of today鈥檚 contest for control of the state Senate could determine the fate of McAuliffe鈥檚 key initiatives, from the two-year budget he will propose next month, to Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. (Cain, 11/2)
In a district covering Prince William and Manassas, Democrat Jeremy McPike and Republican Hal Parrish are vying for the seat held by Sen. Charles J. Colgan (D-Prince William), who is retiring after 40 years. Parrish, the Manassas mayor, opposes Medicaid expansion, has an A-minus rating from the National Rifle Association and cast the tiebreaking vote allowing hospital-style restrictions on Manassas abortion clinics. McPike, who works for the city of Alexandria, favors Medicaid expansion, gun control and abortion rights.
The skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs -- already a hot issue on the U.S. presidential campaign trail -- may be headed to California's statewide ballot next fall. Advocates of a proposed measure that would require state programs to pay no more for prescription drugs than prices negotiated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said they had turned in 542,879 signatures by Monday's 5 p.m. deadline, well beyond the 365,880 required by the state. (Seipel, 11/2)
A ballot initiative spearheaded by tech billionaire Sean Parker that seeks to legalize recreational marijuana use in California was submitted to state officials on Monday. Although the Adult Use of Marijuana Act is one of at least a dozen marijuana legalization measures vying for a place on the November 2016 ballot, it has received support from key interest and advocacy groups and stands poised to secure significant financial backing. (11/2)
The Seneca Indian Nation is weighing whether to get into the medical marijuana business. Members of the western New York tribe are set to vote Tuesday on a referendum that would allow the tribal council to draft laws and regulations surrounding the manufacture, use and distribution of medical marijuana. (11/3)
