On Tuesday, Republican strategist and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was forced to delay the vote on the repeal and replace of the Affordable Care Act. He had ambitiously planned to push the bill that he wrote behind closed doors through the Senate before the July 4th recess, but could not unite the Republican party…
While the Russia investigation and other scandals exploit much of the media attention, big developments may be taking shape in healthcare. The only problem is that no one knows what exactly these developments are. Instead of traditional bipartisan committee hearings, meetings with health experts, and input from industry…
The Trump administration drafted a rule to roll back federal requirements to include contraceptives in health insurance packages. The Obama administration mandated free contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act, although it was highly controversial. The mandate saved women across the country $1.4 billion…
Attorney General Jeff Sessions put out a recent memorandum requiring federal prosecutors to “charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense”. This memo asks prosecutors to seek and prosecute suspects for the crimes with the harshest penalties; that includes prosecuting…
The American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed in the House of Representatives on May 4, 2017. The Republican-sponsored bill aims to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under the AHCA, Medicaid expansion would be rolled back, and its status as an entitlement program would end. Instead the House Bill calls
Congress voted to overturn a rule put in place by the Obama administration, in December 2016, that prevented states from denying Title X Family Planning funding to health care providers who offer abortion services. Title X funds are intended to provide access to “family planning and related preventative health services…
The U.S. State Department announced that it plans to withhold funds dedicated to the United Nations’ Population Fund (UNFPA). The Trump administration determined UNFPA violated the Kemp-Kasten Amendment of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The amendment…
Despite the GOP’s efforts to lobby enough votes for the American Health Care Act (AHCA) to pass the House, they were not able to secure the necessary votes before the scheduled vote on Thursday, March 23. The Trump administration opted to postpone the vote until the follow day hoping they could gain some…
The draft of the Republican alternative to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) removes the individual mandate put in place to keep costs low in the insurance marketplace. Instead, the bill allows insurance companies to charge for a lapse in coverage. The bill also retains federal tax credits to help people afford insurance…
President Trump signed an executive order meant to relieve financial and regulatory burdens placed on states, healthcare providers, companies, and individuals by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in preparation for its repeal. All relevant agencies, by the President’s order, are to “waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay…
Proposed Legislation Proposed on January 25, 2017 Summary Senator Rand Paul’s proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act does not include a personal mandate for insurance coverage and existing essential health benefits all insurance companies are required to provide....