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Barack H. Obama, J.D. has penned another essay for the New England Journal of Medicine, warning the Republican plan to repeal Obamacare and delay replacement for several years is "reckless" and "irresponsible." "What the past eight years have taught us is that health care reform requires an evidence-based, careful approach, driven by what is best for the American people," the president wrote in an essay published this morning in the influential medical journal. "That is why Republicans’ plan to repeal the [Affordable Care Act] with no plan to replace and improve it is so reckless." (Kenen, 1/6)

Obama sought to dispel the notion that Republicans could fulfill their campaign promises to gut the Affordable Care Act immediately without risking devastating consequences for consumers. Calling that approach "irresponsible," Obama urged Republicans to do the work now to develop an alternative. "Given that Republicans have yet to craft a replacement plan, and that unforeseen events might overtake their planned agenda, there might never be a second vote on a plan to replace the ACA if it is repealed," Obama wrote. "And if a second vote does not happen, tens of millions of Americans will be harmed." (Lederman and Lucey, 1/6)

Obama expressed pride in his signature health law, but acknowledged it has issues that need to be addressed, “such as a lack of choice in some health insurance markets, premiums that remain unaffordable for some families, and high prescription-drug costs.” “But persistent partisan resistance to the ACA has made small as well as significant improvements extremely difficult,” the president added. (Smilowitz, 1/6)