Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Wants Simultaneous Repeal And Replace, Dissenting Senator Says
President-elect Donald Trump is increasing pressure on congressional Republicans to vote at the same time to both repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but party leaders haven鈥檛 indicated any shift in strategy to make that happen. Mr. Trump鈥檚 push, combined with doubts from different factions of Republicans, could end up slowing down party leaders鈥 efforts to rapidly overturn much of the law. (Peterson and Bender, 1/9)
President-elect Donald Trump may be joining the growing ranks of Republicans in Washington who are getting cold feet about聽plans to rush through a vote to repeal Obamacare without a plan to replace it. Trump called Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) this weekend to discuss Paul鈥檚 push to convince the rest of the GOP not to vote later this week on a budget resolution that includes a framework for a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan. Paul said he spoke with Trump for approximately 15 minutes Friday and the two agreed on the need for replacement. The only hitch: Republicans don鈥檛 have one yet. (Snell and Weigel, 1/9)
Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is pledging to roll out an ObamaCare replacement bill this week as GOP lawmakers rush to nix the healthcare law.聽The Kentucky senator argued Monday that the law must be replaced with "real market reforms."聽Paul's legislation comes as the Senate is expected to pave the way this week to repealing the healthcare law. 聽(Carney, 1/9)
President-elect Donald Trump doesn't plan to sit back and wait for Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare. The soon-to-be dealmaker-in-chief intends to wield his executive authority to help shift the nation from the Affordable Care Act to a Republican vision for health care. "We're working on a strategy, in concert with the leadership of the House and the Senate, for both a legislative and executive action agenda to ensure that an orderly and smooth transition to a market-based health care reform system is achieved," said Vice President-elect Pence last week, emphasizing the shift will be "stable." (Luhby, 1/9)
In other news聽鈥
Democrats sought President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 backing in last month鈥檚 spending showdown that brought the federal government to the brink of a shutdown over health care coverage for retired miners, and a key participant said Monday that Trump has given an assurance that he supports the effort. Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., announced Monday that Trump gave 鈥渁ssurance鈥 that he will support the effort to permanently extend health care for retired miners and their spouses. (Dillon, 1/9)