Job Growth In Health Care Sector Stumbles Amid Health Law Uncertainty

In the first three months of this year, health care added an average of 20,000 jobs per month, compared with an average monthly gain of 32,000 in 2016. In other news, hospitals and health systems fear loss of reimbursements, and the Iowa Hospital Association says insurers should be doing more to protect gains made under Obamacare.

As plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act took center stage last month, job growth in the healthcare sector slowed significantly. The industry produced 13,500 new jobs in March, which is much less than the 31,400 new positions created in February, according to the most recent jobs report issued Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Castellucci, 4/7)

One day, Obamacare is dead. The next, it's alive. Trumpcare is on the agenda today. Tomorrow, it has been shelved. The future of health care reform in Washington for the moment remains undeniably unclear. So how do Michigan hospitals and health systems with thousands of newly insured patients plan ahead? (Dolan, 4/8)

The Iowa Hospital Association says it’s important not to lose the gains made under the Affordable Care Act. The warning comes after the insurance carriers Aetna and Wellmark announced this week that in 2018, they’ll stop selling individual policies on Iowa’s healthcare exchange created under the ACA. (Boden, 4/7)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

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