Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CBO Warns It Won't Have Time To Give Full Analysis On Graham-Cassidy Bill
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said Monday it's aiming to provide a "preliminary assessment" of a repeal bill sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) by early next week.聽The score will include information on whether the legislation would reduce deficits by at least as much as was聽estimated for the House repeal bill passed earlier this year. It will also assess if the bill would save at least $1 billion and whether it would increase on-budget deficits in the long term. (Hellmann, 9/18)
The notice Monday from the Congressional Budget Office angered Democrats, who planned to use the complete figures to hammer the Graham-Cassidy legislation, which is picking up steam in the Senate ahead of a possible vote within two weeks. (Viebeck, 9/18)
Democrats on Monday asked聽the Congressional Budget Office to conduct a full analysis on coverage losses that would result from the latest Senate GOP effort to repeal and replace ObamaCare. In a letter sent to the nonpartisan budget office, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif. ) said the public needs a 鈥渇ull understanding of the impact this legislation would have鈥 on Americans. (Weixel, 9/18)
Worried Democrats seized on the statement to urge Republicans to wait for a full CBO score before holding a vote. "Have the courage and decency to wait for a CBO score," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor on Monday. (Cornwell, 9/18)
[W]ithout a CBO report, Senate Republicans may be spared damaging headlines if CBO found the bill could cause millions more to be uninsured or fuel significantly higher costs for older enrollees. (Caygle, 9/18)