Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Senate Republicans Forge Ahead With Vote-A-Rama On Medicaid-Cutting Bill
The Senate is set to kick off what's expected to be a marathon session Monday, after the chamber debated President Trump's massive tax package into the wee hours of the morning as Republicans work to pass the centerpiece legislation of Mr. Trump's second term agenda. (Hubbard, 6/30)
The House could vote on the GOP鈥檚 鈥渂ig, beautiful bill鈥 as early as Wednesday morning, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer鈥檚 (R-Minn.) office announced Sunday, officially notifying members that they will have to return to Washington, D.C., to vote on the megabill. (Schnell, 6/29)
Republicans鈥 marquee domestic policy bill that is making its way through the Senate would result in deeper cuts and more Americans losing health insurance coverage than the original measure that passed the House last month, according to new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. According to a report published late Saturday night, the legislation would mean 11.8 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034. Federal spending on Medicaid, Medicare and Obamacare would be reduced by more than $1.1 trillion over that period 鈥 with more than $1 trillion of those cuts coming from Medicaid alone. (Sanger-Katz, 6/29)
Senate Republican leaders substantially increased the size of a rural hospital relief fund and rewrote controversial language freezing health care provider taxes in a late-night bid to keep President Trump鈥檚 鈥渂ig, beautiful bill鈥 on track for a vote Saturday afternoon. Republican leaders increased the size of the proposed rural hospital relief fund from $15 billion to $25 billion, with the money to be distributed over five years. (Bolton, 6/28)
Hours after announcing his retirement, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis went to the Senate floor and slammed the GOP鈥檚 plans for drastic Medicaid cuts 鈥 warning Republicans they are about to 鈥渕ake a mistake on health care and betray a promise鈥 if their sprawling domestic policy bill passes.鈥 It is inescapable this bill will betray the promise Donald Trump made,鈥 Tillis said. 鈥淚鈥檓 telling the president that you have been misinformed. You supporting the Senate mark will hurt people who are eligible and qualified for Medicaid.鈥 (McCarthy and Carney, 6/29)
Sen. Markwayne Mullin is insisting President Donald Trump鈥檚 sweeping domestic megabill doesn鈥檛 break his promise not to cut Medicaid, even as the Congressional Budget Office estimates 7.8 million people would lose access if it passes. Instead, Mullin (R-Okla.) told NBC鈥檚 Kristen Welker on Sunday, the 鈥淏ig Beautiful Bill鈥 is eliminating fraud, waste and abuse that Republicans say is rampant in the program. 鈥淲hat is so hard about having a work requirement there with someone that has no medical conditions and no dependents?鈥 he said on 鈥淢eet the Press.鈥 (Svirnovskiy, 6/29)
麻豆女优 Health News: In A First, Trump And GOP-Led Congress Prepare To Swell Ranks Of U.S. Uninsured
Last September, Alton Fry went to the doctor concerned he had high blood pressure. The trip would result in a prostate cancer diagnosis. So began the stress of trying to pay for tens of thousands of dollars in treatment 鈥 without health insurance. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been sick in my life, so I鈥檝e never needed insurance before,鈥 said Fry, a 54-year-old self-employed masonry contractor who restores old buildings in the rural Appalachian community he鈥檚 called home nearly all his life. (Rayasam and Whitehead, 6/30)
麻豆女优 Health News: 麻豆女优 Health News鈥 鈥極n Air鈥: Journalists Break Down Reconciliation Bill, Vaccine Panel Meeting, And 'Dobbs' Anniversary
麻豆女优 Health News senior correspondent Phil Galewitz discussed Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cuts on 鈥淐BS Morning News鈥 on June 26. ... 麻豆女优 Health News senior correspondent Arthur Allen discussed the first Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory panel meeting under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on 鈥淐BS News 24/7鈥 on June 25. (6/28)
In related news about the Affordable Care Act 鈥
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the structure of a federal health task force that recommends preventive medical services that must be provided to patients at no cost under the Affordable Care Act. The ruling from the Supreme Court in the case known as Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc. leaves intact the 16-member U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The task force is part of the Department of Health and Human Service and has for decades been making recommendations on preventive medical services to avoid serious health conditions. (Quinn, 6/27)
Healthcare advocates, trade group leaders and elected government officials are applauding the Supreme Court鈥檚 decision to uphold preventive services coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act. In a 6-3 vote, the court ruled Friday that insurers will still be required to cover preventive care, such as cancer screenings, at no cost to enrollees. (DeSilva, 6/27)