Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Freedom Caucus Head Hints At Progress On GOP Health Plan Strategy
The leader of the House Freedom Caucus says Republicans are "close" to agreement on a plan to repeal ObamaCare, indicating that discussions are still continuing while Congress is in a two-week recess.聽Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) on Tuesday told a local radio station that he expects to hear back from Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) by noon about "two options" on the table. He did not elaborate. (Hellmann, 4/11)
Republicans at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are facing a big question this spring: What now? As President Trump approaches his 100-day mark at the end of this month, congressional Republicans have few accomplishments to point to and are divided over how to proceed on his two biggest priorities: healthcare and tax reform. (Bolton, 4/12)
In other news, a look at who should take the blame for the collapse of the plan聽鈥
Conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus have shouldered the majority of the blame for the GOP鈥檚 failure to repeal and replace the 2010 health care law, but moderates may be equally 鈥 if not more 鈥 responsible for the impasse. There are arguably more hard 鈥渘o鈥 votes (members not likely to be convinced to move to 鈥測es鈥) for the GOP leadership鈥檚 plan among moderate Republicans than there are among the members of the Freedom Caucus. (McPherson, 4/12)