Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Republican Senators To Introduce Their Version Of Replacement Monday
Two Republican senators are set to introduce legislation Monday to replace Obamacare amid mounting pressure on the GOP to craft an alternative to the massive healthcare law. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana will unveil a bill that they are describing as an "Obamacare replacement plan." In a statement, the duo promised that the proposal would give more power to the states on health care policy, increase access to affordable insurance and help cover millions of Americans who are currently uninsured. (Lee, 1/23)
Don鈥檛 expect President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to roll out their ObamaCare replacement plan next week at their joint House and Senate GOP retreat in Philadelphia. Healthcare is expected to dominate the three-day gathering that kicks off聽Wednesday. But GOP lawmakers attending Trump鈥檚 presidential inauguration Friday said they likely won鈥檛 settle on a complete replacement strategy by the time the retreat wraps up. (Wong, 1/21)
Congressional Republicans appear no closer on Inauguration Day than in recent weeks to having a coherent strategy in place to achieve the incoming Trump administration鈥檚 goal to simultaneously repeal and replace the 2010 health care law. House and Senate Republicans hope to get more organized during a policy retreat next week聽in Philadelphia where health care is expected to be聽a significant topic. Several major questions鈥攊ncluding what the GOP will do about the $9 billion or so that would be needed to fund cost-sharing subsidies for people covered by Obamacare聽plans, and whether to repeal the law鈥檚 Medicaid expansion鈥攔emain unanswered. (Williams, 1/20)