SIGN UP! If you’d like to continue receiving Washington Examiner’s Daily on Healthcare newsletter, SUBSCRIBE HERE: http://newsletters.washingtonexaminer.com/newsletter/daily-on-healthcare/
Conservative groups rally around Cruz amendment: Conservative groups have begun to rally around a proposal by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would allow insurers to offer plans that get around Obamacare’s insurance requirements as long as they offer at least one Obamacare-compliant plan in a given state. The bill has emerged as a red line for conservatives such as Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, but is facing resistance from centrists who worry about its effects on coverage for older, sicker and poorer Americans. The amendment is being scored by the Congressional Budget Office alongside another version of the bill that does not include the measure. The estimate will be used to compare the two versions’ effects on premiums, coverage, spending and market stability.
Club for Growth: The conservative group on Wednesday voiced support for the Cruz amendment. “At a bare minimum, Congress should not stand in the way of allowing Americans who want to opt out of Obamacare to do so,” Club for Growth President David McIntosh said. “And that’s why it’s so important that the new Senate Obamacare repeal bill include the Lee-Cruz Consumer Freedom Option, which would allow individuals to opt out of Obamacare’s costly regulations.” Other Senate Republicans have suggested keeping Obamacare’s tax on wealthy individuals, which is a 3.8 percent tax on investments for people making more than $250,000 a year. The Club for Growth discouraged keeping the tax, saying it would prevent economic growth. “A step in the wrong direction — more like a trip — would be for the GOP to keep the 3.8 percent Net Investment Income Investment Tax on capital gains and dividends,” McIntosh said. “This tax, just like any tax increase, is an anathema to conservatives as it suppresses economic growth and opportunity throughout our nation. Under no circumstances should the NIIT be included in any forthcoming Republican ‘repeal’ bill.”
FreedomWorks: “We hope Senate Republicans have used to the first couple of days of the recess to relax and celebrate America’s independence,” FreedomWorks President Adam Brandon said. “But today, they should get back to work on the health insurance reform bill. Don’t lose momentum during this short break. The Senate must act quickly when they return next week. We continue to believe that the best outcome is language modeled after the 2015 reconciliation bill that repealed much of Obamacare. But if Senate Republicans insist on tweaking Obamacare, we urge them to adopt language being pushed by Sens. Cruz and Lee that will provide consumers with more choice and truly affordable health insurance coverage.”
Cruz faces tough Obamacare questions at otherwise friendly town hall. Even a controlled town hall that was supposed to stay focused on issues affecting military veterans couldn’t suppress the debate over repealing Obamacare that is roiling Washington and the rest of the country. Near the end of a forum with Cruz, an argument broke out over the merits of repealing the Affordable Care Act. Misty Hook, who identified herself as a psychologist who treats veterans at a reduced cost in Allen, told Cruz as she asked him his plans for making mental health coverage more affordable that “you all, on the Hill, are scaring the living daylights out of us with the healthcare nonsense that you’re doing.” At one point, Cruz said that “Obamacare the last seven years has proven to be a manifest disaster.” Hook shouted back: “Not for us.” She later told the Washington Examiner that Obamacare has helped her patients afford healthcare. Neither Hook, nor Buddy Luce, an attorney from South Lake, were satisfied with Cruz’s response that the answer is to make healthcare more affordable by reducing premiums. The senator has proposed curbing mandatory protections, so that Americans could buy coverage that better fit their needs. Ivette Lozano, a Cruz supporter, told the Washington Examiner after the forum that Obamacare was putting family practitioners like her out of business because the system makes it financially untenable to practice.
Welcome to Philip Klein’s Daily on Healthcare, compiled by Washington Examiner Managing Editor Philip Klein (@philipaklein), Senior Healthcare Writer Kimberly Leonard (@LeonardKL) and Healthcare Reporter Robert King (@rking_19). Email [email protected] for tips, suggestions, calendar items and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list.
Rep. Steve Scalise readmitted to intensive care unit amid infection concerns. The House majority whip is listed in “serious” condition at MedStar Washington Hospital Center after concerns emerged about possible infection as he recovers from a gunshot wound during practice for the Congressional Baseball Game on June 14. “Congressman Steve Scalise has been readmitted to the Intensive Care Unit at MedStar Washington Hospital Center due to new concerns for infection,” the hospital said in a statement late Wednesday night. “His condition is listed as serious.”
RNC asks for Hillary Clinton’s healthcare plan, she tweets response from campaign page. Clinton pushed back Wednesday at an effort by the Republican National Committee to blame Democrats for the uncertainty surrounding America’s healthcare system. The RNC tweeted an ad criticizing Democrats for failing to put forward their own plan to fix Obamacare and urging them to work with Republicans to reform the healthcare system. The roughly 90-second ad features notable Democrats, including Clinton, admitting there are problems with the 2010 healthcare law and that fixes are needed. The RNC also taunted Clinton directly, tweeting at her a video clip in which he acknowledges, “We’ve got to fix what’s broken.” “Where’s your plan, @HillaryClinton?” the RNC tweeted. Clinton responded by tweeting a link to the healthcare plan she produced during her campaign, which exists on her website and calls for expanding Obamacare and reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Sarcastically, she tweeted to the RNC that her plan “includes radical provisions like how not to kick 23 mil ppl off their coverage. Feel free to run w/it.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders plans rallies in Kentucky and West Virginia to oppose healthcare proposal. The Vermont independent announced Wednesday that the rallies in the two red states, dubbed “Care Not Cuts,” will be held Sunday. Sanders said the Senate GOP plan would particularly hurt Kentucky, the state represented by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican. “McConnell’s legislation, which would throw 22 million Americans off of health insurance, would be a disaster for the country and an even worse disaster for the people of Kentucky,” Sanders said. “Under the Affordable Care Act, Kentucky has made significant progress in lowering the number of its uninsured people. Further, the expansion of Medicaid there has been of significant help in the fight against the opioid epidemic which has ravaged Kentucky.”
Money pouring in for Democrats challenging Paul Ryan and Cruz in 2018. Two Democrats hoping to unseat a pair of top Republicans in 2018 have raked in an impressive amount of money, a sign that Democratic fundraising is still going strong after the record-breaking House special election race in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District. Though facing long odds, Beto O’Rourke, who is running to defeat Cruz in Texas, and Randy Bryce in Wisconsin, who is campaigning to take out Ryan, are drawing strong donation numbers in the early stages of their campaigns. O’Rourke, a U.S. congressman who represents the west Texas district that includes El Paso, has raised more than $1 million online since he announced his challenge against Cruz at the end of March, according to Politico’s Scott Bland. O’Rourke had more than $500,000 in his war chest following first-quarter fundraising, the El Paso Times reported in mid-April. Meanwhile, Bryce, a union ironworker who supported Sanders during the 2016 campaign, claims to have strong grassroots support, resulting in a record $430,000 from 16,000 donors in the first 12 days of his candidacy.
Document dump reveals Trump administration meetings on healthcare. The 1,831-page document dump, in response to a judge’s order in a lawsuit brought by American Oversight, includes details about which officials were part of healthcare discussions. OMB Director Mick Mulvaney met with Scott Serota, head of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. “I think it’s
worth doing this one,” wrote Russell Vought, deputy director at OMB. “With Blue Cross Blue Shield being the largest private health insurer across America, they want to make sure that any repeal and replace bill fully understands what is needed for them to preserve their presence nationwide.”
RUNDOWN
POLITICO GOP promises lower health premiums but ignores all that’s driving them
Modern Healthcare Small insurers rack up large charges while Blues benefit under ACA’s risk-adjustment program
Inside Higher Ed How higher ed would feel Medicaid cuts
Stat After Trump’s immigration crackdown, a desert clinic tries to save lives without breaking the law
Kaiser Health News As seniors get sicker, they’re more likely to drop Medicare Advantage plans
Bloomberg Low-cost health insurance limits access to top cancer doctors
The Associated Press Oregon approves measure requiring insurers to cover abortion
Calendar
THURSDAY | JULY 6
11:30 a.m. CST/12:30 a.m. EST. McKenna Youth and Activity Center. 311 Main St, Palco, Kan. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, to hold a town hall. Details.
1 p.m. 2101 Constitution Ave. NW. National Academy of Medicine event on “Effective Care for High-Need Patients: Opportunities for Improving Outcomes, Value and Health.” Details.
2 p.m. 1789 Massachusetts Ave. NW. American Enterprise Institute event on “Unbundling the Benefit for Better Health: A Broader Role for Health Savings Accounts.” Details.
6 p.m. CST/7 p.m. EST. 9721 Arboretum Blvd, Austin, Texas. Sen. Ted Cruz holds town hall with Concerned Veterans of America. Details.
FRIDAY | JULY 7
Noon. G50 Dirksen. Alliance for Health Policy and the Commonwealth Fund event on “Understanding What’s Next for Medicaid.” Details.
5 p.m. ADT. 200 Katlian St., Stika, Alaska. Sen. Lisa Murkowski to hold healthcare town hall. Details.
SATURDAY | JULY 8
Noon. 300 North Loop West Freeway, Houston. Sen. Ted Cruz holds town hall with Concerned Veterans of America. Details.
MONDAY | JULY 10
Senate back in session.
8 a.m. CST/9 a.m. EST. Harlan Community HIgh School. Harlan, Iowa. Sen Joni Ernst will hold a town hall.
TUESDAY | JULY 11
House back in session.
10 a.m. 1225 I St. NW. Bipartisan Policy Center event on “Solutions to long-term care financing in politically challenging times.” Details.
WEDNESDAY | JULY 12
July 12-13. Children’s Hospital Association holds family advocacy day. Details.
9 a.m. National Press Club. Event on “Genetic Engineering: The Future of Agriculture and Public Health.” Details.
10 a.m. 2123 Rayburn. House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on “Combating the Opioid Crisis: Battle in the States.” Details.
1 p.m. National Press Club. The Association of American Universities and The Science Coalition for a discussion of “The State of American Science.”
3 p.m. Urban Institute. 2100 M St. NW. “The Impact of Early Childhood Education on Health and Well-Being: The Latest Research from Policies for Action.” Details.
THURSDAY | JULY 13
9 a.m. Newseum. 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. CQ Roll Call, members of Congress and David Cordani, president and CEO of Cigna, will convene a group of government officials and stakeholders to discuss preliminary research findings of a new study examining the impact of the growing opioid crisis in the U.S. Details.
10 a.m. Bipartisan Policy Center. 1225 I St. NW. Event on “Future of Health Care: Can Increased State Flexibility Balance Innovation, Cost and Coverage?” Details.
