Archive for the ‘Republicans’ Category
AHL’s TOP STORY: Employers Would Save Money Under Overhaul by Dropping Workers’ Coverage, GOP Report Finds
The U.S.’s largest companies could save billions of dollars by dropping employee benefits and shifting workers into the federal health reform law’s health insurance exchanges, even after paying a penalty for not providing coverage, according to a report released yesterday by Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” reports (Baker, “Healthwatch,” The Hill, 5/1).
The findings echo concerns from a similar report released last week by Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which found that certain companies on President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness expect the overhaul to increase their health care costs and could provide incentive for them to drop coverage for their employees (American Health Line, 4/27).
AHL’s TOP STORY: House Passes Student Loan Bill With Cuts to Health Reform Fund
The House on Friday voted 215-195 to approve a bill (HR 4628) that would cut funding from the federal health reform law’s Prevention and Public Health Fund to offset the cost of extending low-interest rates for subsidized student loans, Reuters reports (Ferraro, Reuters, 4/27).
AHL’s TOP STORY: Health Care Costs Would Increase Because of Health Reform Law, GOP Report Finds
Certain companies on President Obama’s jobs council expect the federal health reform law to increase their health care costs and could provide incentive for them to drop coverage for their employees, according to a report released yesterday by Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Wall Street Journal reports (Radnofsky, Wall Street Journal, 4/26).
The report — titled “Higher Costs, More Confusion, Less Coverage” — compiles public and private statements on the health reform law from business leaders on the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, a 27-member advisory panel established in January 2011 (Adams, CQ HealthBeat, 4/26).
AHL’s TOP STORY: Republicans Back Off From Proposed Medicare, Medicaid Budget Changes
House Republicans are opting for less controversial spending cuts, such as cutting federal health reform law funding, over pursuing broad changes to Medicaid and Medicare included in House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) House-passed fiscal year 2013 budget proposal, the AP/Washington Times reports (Taylor, AP/Washington Times, 4/24).
Ryan’s budget plan — which the House passed in March and approved again in a procedural move earlier this month — would transform Medicare from a fee-for-service program to one in which beneficiaries could either purchase coverage on the private market or maintain traditional Medicare coverage. The proposal also would reduce Medicaid spending and convert the program to a block-grant system, in which states would receive a fixed amount (American Health Line, 4/18).
BACK AND FORTH: White House, Blahous Debate Federal Health Reform Law’s Cost
The battle between critics of the federal health reform law and the Obama administration has not ceased while the country awaits the Supreme Court decision. This week, Republicans deviated from their usual attacks and focused on a new report by Charles Blahous, the Republican trustee for Medicare and Social Security.
AHL’s TOP STORY: Obama Clarifies Comments on SCOTUS Case in Wake of Republican Criticism
President Obama yesterday softened his stance on last week’s Supreme Court oral arguments over the constitutionality of the federal health reform law after his remarks quickly drew strong criticism for several Republican lawmakers, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” reports (Baker [1], “Healthwatch,” The Hill, 4/3).
In his first public comments about last week’s oral arguments, Obama on Monday said he is “confident that this law will be upheld because it should be upheld” and warned the justices that striking it down would be an “unprecedented, extraordinary step” (American Health Line, 4/3).
AHL’s TOP STORY: House Approves Ryan’s FY 2013 Budget Plan
The House yesterday voted 228-191 to approve House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) fiscal year 2013 budget proposal, which would repeal the federal health reform law and alter Medicaid and Medicare, the Wall Street Journal reports. All Democrats and 10 Republicans voted against Ryan’s budget.
AHL’s TOP STORY: Obama Will Not Mark Overhaul’s Anniversary; Republicans Note Silence
President Obama will not mark the two-year anniversary of the federal health reform law tomorrow, Politico reports (Allen/Nocera, Politico, 3/21).
AHL’s TOP STORY: IPAB Repeal Bill Reaches House Floor; Full Vote Expected Tomorrow
The House today is scheduled to consider legislation (HR 5) that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board created by the federal health reform law, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” reports. The House Rules Committee approved the measure yesterday, and a final floor vote is expected today or tomorrow.
AHL’s TOP STORY: Republicans, Democrats Gear Up as Health Reform’s Two-Year Anniversary Approaches
Republicans, Democrats and their allies this week have organized a series of events to mark the two-year anniversary of the federal health reform law on Friday and the highly anticipated Supreme Court review of the constitutionality of the law next week, USA Today reports (Wolf, USA Today, 3/19).
