With Trump As President, Path Toward Dismantling Health Law Clears
Although to actually repeal the law, Republicans would need Democratic votes in the Senate — which is unlikely to happen — they could tear big pieces of it apart on the procedural level.
Reuters:
Trump, Congress Will Be In Sync On Some Issues, But Long-Term Questions Loom
Trump and the Republican leadership in Congress agree on at least one major policy: They want to repeal Democratic President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare law, known as Obamacare, enacted in 2010. “I would expect the very first thing a Republican Congress would do would be to repeal Obamacare,” said Republican Oklahoma Representative Tom Cole, a Ryan ally, in an interview on Monday. Such a step would shake the U.S. healthcare and insurance industries, which have broadly called for measured reforms to Obamacare, although not for its full-scale repeal. (Cornwell and Cowan, 11/9)
Politico Pro:
Trump Victory Puts Obamacare Dismantling Within Reach
Donald Trump’s ascension to the White House puts President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act — and health insurance for some 20 million Americans — in grave peril. Ever since the law passed in 2010, Republicans have campaigned on a pledge to repeal Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement. Trump’s victory gives them their first opportunity to do so. (Haberkorn, 11/9)
Modern Healthcare:
Trump Upset Will Force Healthcare Leaders To Rethink The Future
Republican Donald Trump's shocking victory Tuesday will force a major shift in the healthcare industry's thinking about its future. Combined with the GOP's retention of control of the Senate and the House, a Trump presidency enables conservatives to repeal or roll back the Affordable Care Act and implement at least some of the proposals outlined in the GOP party platform and the recent House Republican leadership white paper on healthcare. (Meyer, 11/9)
Bloomberg:
President-Elect Trump Faced With Turning Promises Into Policy
Trump says he’ll ask Congress to immediately repeal the Affordable Care Act, Obama’s signature domestic achievement. He has criticized the law for large premium increases in its government-run insurance markets. Even if Democrats in the Senate are able to block wholesale repeal, Republicans could gut some of the law’s key provisions, such as premium subsidies for insurance, a requirement that Americans carry insurance and an expansion of Medicaid for the poor. (Olorunnipa and Wayne, 11/9)
Kaiser Health News:
Trump, GOP In Congress Could Use 'Must-Pass' Bills To Bring Health Changes
Beyond the health law, Trump also could push for some Republican perennials, such as giving states block grants to handle Medicaid, allowing insurers to sell across state lines and establishing a federal high-risk insurance pool for people who are ill and unable to get private insurance.But those options, too, would likely meet Democratic resistance, and it’s unclear where health will land on what could be a jam-packed White House agenda. (Rovner, 11/9)
Meanwhile, Politico looks at who may be the next HHS secretary —
Politico Pro:
Meet Trump's Cabinet-In-Waiting
For Health and Human Services secretary, among the names receiving buzz: Florida Gov. Rick Scott, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Ben Carson, former GOP presidential candidate. Carson has received the most attention lately for HHS, even from Trump himself. (Cook and Restuccia, 11/9)