Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
How It's Playing On the Ground: A 'Farce' Not A Plan? Scolding A Senator
Americans are divided on what to do about health care, but they should be united in this conclusion: Senate Republicans鈥 manic approach to reforming a sector that represents one-sixth of the U.S. economy and determines life or death for millions of people is utterly craven and irresponsible. ...This聽is how Republicans are going to determine how Americans get their health care? (7/25)
It was always predictable Obamacare would collapse of its own weight because it centralizes health care in America, empowering the bureaucracy instead of doctors and patients. It has not controlled health care costs as promised. (Rick Perry, 7/25)
President Donald Trump raged against what he called 鈥淥bamacare lies鈥 Monday, urging Senators to move forward on a repeal and replace plan for the Affordable Care Act. ...But the proposals put forth so far by Republicans, and backed by Trump, are estimated to leave tens of millions of Americans without health care and put tens of millions more with very limited coverage and at risk for bankruptcy should anyone in the family contract a major illness. (EJ Montini, 7/25)
As Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, said Sunday, if the Senate does open floor debate, it's unclear whether senators would be dealing with Paul Ryan's House-passed bill, Mitch McConnell's first, second or (unseen) third plan - or an ACA repeal, with a Senate promise to replace the law, eventually. ...That's also why Sen. Rob Portman, a suburban Cincinnati Republican who聽has spelled out聽his own careful stance on protecting Ohioans聽that he says will guide his vote, must vote "no" on聽moves by McConnell to force Senate action聽on an ill-considered, narrowly partisan package that would devastate health care in Ohio. (7/25)
Sen. Rob Portman cast the wrong vote Tuesday in supporting a hasty, politically motivated effort to allow Senate debate and, presumably, a vote on one or a series of ill-considered, narrowly partisan measures likely to devastate health care in Ohio. ...As Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican who cast one of only two Republican "nos" on the Senate floor, said before the vote, no one even knew exactly what senators were being asked to debate and maybe vote on. (7/25)
