Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
There's A Faint Scent Of Bipartisanship In The Air. But What Would That Look Like?
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned last week that Republicans’ failure to pass comprehensive health care reform could have dire consequences. He even warned of one scenario rarely seen here lately: bipartisanship. There’s no guarantee that a holistic, bipartisan health care bill could succeed should McConnell’s nearly single-handed effort to repeal much of the Affordable Care Act fail. But Democrats at least claim they are willing to compromise. (Facher and Mershon, 7/5)
Republicans promise to bring down the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans by repealing Obamacare. But in the race to make insurance premiums cheaper, they ignore a more ominous number — the $3.2 trillion-plus the U.S. spends annually on health care overall. (Kenen, 7/6)
An iffy health care vote. An unresolved budget resolution. A heavy debt ceiling lift. And, of course, there is that tax overhaul plan. Congress has a lot to do, and it doesn’t have much time. So much for a lazy July in Washington. (Rappeport, 7/5)