 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Democrats pivot to affordability |
After failing to win an extension of ObamaCare's enhanced subsidies in the government shutdown, Democrats are taking aim at broader health care costs, hoping to use it as a line of attack against Republicans. |
The Democrats who won last week's elections focused on pocketbook issues, so going forward, they'll take any opportunity to blame Republicans for rising costs. While the messaging throughout the shutdown focused mainly on the Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges, Democrats are preparing to hammer Republicans for Medicaid cuts and high prescription drug prices. "This health care crisis is, of course, about health insurance. There's a lot of other things," Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) told reporters Wednesday. "This health crisis is also about the price for prescription drugs ... which, after your health insurance premiums, is the biggest problem that Americans face." Messaging on health care costs is likely to feature prominently in the midterm elections, even in the unlikely event the enhanced subsidies are extended. Affordability was a key issue last week, and Democrats think that the subsidy fight, combined with highlighting the cuts in the GOP party-line tax bill, is a winning combination. "We want to make sure that we call attention to these health care costs that are about to take place because of their refusal to negotiate, their refusal to participate and never, never, once, ever having a plan of their own for health care other than the idea to keep people going into emergency room care," Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.) said during a call with advocacy group Protect Our Care. "It's tax breaks for billionaires, but health care costs are going to go way up for average American citizens." Insurers participating in ACA exchanges priced their plans under the assumption that the enhanced subsidies would expire, so people enrolled in those plans are seeing the sticker shock of their premium payments doubling or tripling compared to last year. |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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| How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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The hemp industry is regrouping and gearing up for a significant lobbying blitz following passage of the government funding package that contained a provision they say would outlaw nearly all hemp products. The legislation clarifies the definition of hemp to ban all hemp-derived products containing THC, which were legalized by the 2018 farm bill. Legal hemp products are limited to a total of 0.4 milligrams per container … |
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Popular THC-infused drinks and edibles may disappear from store shelves in the next year as Congress is on the verge of passing a ban on nearly all hemp-derived THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, products. Tucked into the Senate-passed government funding bill is a provision that would recriminalize many of the intoxicating hemp-derived products that were legalized by the 2018 farm bill. The provision "prevents the unregulated … |
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s panel of federal vaccine advisors is set to discuss and potentially vote on changing the hepatitis B vaccine schedule for infants when they next meet on Dec. 4. According to a Federal Register notice, the agenda for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will include "discussions on vaccine safety, the … |
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Branch out with a different read: |
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Vance: MAHA crowd 'asking the right questions' |
Vice President Vance on Wednesday praised supporters of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, saying they are "asking the right questions." In a panel discussion alongside Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the leader of the MAHA movement, Vance described his wife, second lady Usha Vance, as "probably one of the, like, original MAHA people," adding, "though I don't think that she would … |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Trump proposal could reverse Maryland law banning medical debt reporting (WYPR)
- Funding cuts, lawsuits, and fear derailed Pennsylvania's plan to close state hospitals and invest in community mental health care (Spotlight PA)
- Vermont, New York officials warn of health insurance scams (ABC22/FOX44)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Republicans want to replace enhanced ACA tax credits with direct payments. Their think tank allies aren't so sure (Stat)
- More kids have high blood pressure, many may be missed by in-office screening alone (MedPage Today)
- Novo Nordisk, Lilly deny partnership with Mangoceuticals on obesity drugs (Reuters)
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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