 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Democrats press for ACA subsidies extension
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The enhanced ObamaCare subsidies established through the Inflation Reduction Act are set to expire at the end of 2025 and Democrats are calling for them to be extended before the deadline to ensure continued access to care. |
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) led a letter sent Wednesday to bipartisan leaders in both chambers urging them to act "at the next possible legislative opportunity." It was signed by 41 Senate Democrats and 154 House Democrats. "Extending [the subsidies] is essential to preventing a sudden increase in out-of-pocket costs and preserving the largest expansion of coverage since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law more than a decade ago," the letter read. "By including provisions to extend the enhanced [premium tax credits] in the soonest possible legislative opportunity and creating a pathway for making them permanent, we can finish the job for the American people and keep quality health care within reach for our constituents." The enhanced subsidies, put into effect during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, increase financial help to low-income individuals who qualify for plans with cheap, or even zero-dollar premiums. The expiration date is still more than a year away, but it will be the next big ObamaCare fight in Congress. As KFF noted, insurers and regulators will want to know the fate of those subsidies well in advance to set accurate premiums for 2026. And the health care industry is pushing to preserve the subsidies, with a new coalition launching last week that includes the Federation of American Hospitals, Families USA, AARP and the insurance lobby America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). While the subsidies have boosted insurance coverage to record highs, maintaining them permanently would increase the deficit by $335 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Republicans argue the price tag is too big and too many high earners are benefitting from taxpayer-subsidized insurance. |
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Vice President Harris will travel to Georgia on Friday to highlight her support for abortion rights, likely focusing on the stories of two women whose deaths she blames on the state's abortion ban passed by Republicans after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. "The Vice President will highlight the stark contrast between her commitment to fight for reproductive freedom and the devastating and deadly consequences of Trump … |
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Senate Republicans on Tuesday for the second time blocked a Democratic bill that would have created a federal right to in-vitro fertilization and guaranteed insurance coverage of IVF and other fertility treatments. Republicans blocked the same bill in June, and the outcome this time around was never in doubt. Just like in June, the GOP decried it as a show vote. Only Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski … |
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All seven independent directors of 23andMe's board resigned on Tuesday, citing disagreements over the chief executive's plan to take the company private. The departures leave just one sitting member of the board, its chair, Anne Wojcicki, who co-founded the genetics-testing company in 2006 and serves as its chief executive officer. Wojcicki submitted a proposal in late July to take the company private, after earlier … |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- The Senate HELP Committee will vote Thursday to hold the CEO of Steward Health Care in contempt of Congress.
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A MESSAGE FROM PLAN B ONE STEP |
Plan B is a backup birth control option that is used to help prevent unintended pregnancy after unprotected intercourse, a contraceptive failure, or sexual assault. Its proven safety, efficacy, and mode of action is supported by a large body of clinical studies and scientific literature, all of which support that Plan B does not impact the implantation of a fertilized egg. Explore the evidence. |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- New York City's free condoms in short supply after changes to federal funding stream (Crain's New York Business)
- Florida ACLU to sue health care agency over abortion TV ad (ABC Action News)
- Mankato clinic to fill gap in rural mental health care, train next generation of therapists (Star Tribune)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Deep links between alcohol and cancer described in new report (The New York Times)
- Trump dodges when confronted with dark detail about his health care plan (The New Republic)
- The AI assurance labs are coming (Politico)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro couldn't purchase a canned cocktail under a new law expanding access to such beverages, because he forgot his ID. Read more |
| Editor’s note: The story has been updated to reflect the number of times in recent election cycles that the union has not endorsed a candidate. … Read more |
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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