Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Democrats Mobilize To Defend Health Law, Ask Trump To 'Do No Further Harm'
Democrats, hoping to seize on momentum from the apparent collapse of the Republicans鈥� health bill, are grappling with a tough question鈥攚hether they can do anything to prevent the Trump administration from weakening the Affordable Care Act through administrative actions by the Department of Health and Human Services. (Armour, 4/3)
With prospects in doubt for repealing "Obamacare," some Republicans say the Trump administration can rewrite regulations and take other actions to undo much of the health care law on its own. Some of those moves could disrupt life for millions of people, many in states that the new president carried. And then there's the risk of court challenges. Remember the White House travel ban? (Alonso-Zaldivar, 4/3)
Even if in-fighting thwarts Republican efforts in Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Donald Trump's administration can act on its own to change parts of the law. (Eaton, 4/3)
Will opening the door to cheaper, skimpier marketplace plans with higher deductibles and copays attract consumers and insurers to the exchanges next year? That鈥檚 what the Trump administration is betting on. In February, the administration聽proposed a rule聽that would take a bit of the shine off of bronze, silver, gold and platinum exchange plans by allowing them to provide less generous coverage while keeping the same metal-level designation. (Andrews, 4/4)
惭别补苍飞丑颈濒别听鈥�
The House Energy and Commerce Committee, following a massive setback in March in the GOP鈥檚 attempt to repeal and replace the 2010 health care law, is preparing to move ahead on several other health initiatives. The panel needs to write two major bills by Sept. 30 鈥� one renewing the Food and Drug Administration鈥檚 authority to collect industry user fees and another reauthorizing the Children鈥檚 Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. Companies, patients and state officials affected by these measures are urging quick action. (Williams, 4/3)