- January 24 – Dr. Tom Price “I think the employer system has been a remarkable success in allowing individuals to gain coverage," response to Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
- January 26 - 27 – Republican Retreat in Philadelphia: House Speaker Ryan and Senate Majority Leader McConnell indicate an expectation PPACA repeal bill will be on floor by end of March.
- This week – HHS, Treasury and Labor Cabinet heads still be to confirmed. These three departments will work on regulatory process to create any flexibility per President Trumps Executive Order.
Trump order on regulations could create hurdles for FDA, Cures Act
January 30, 2017 – STAT
Excerpt: “President Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing federal agencies to cut two regulations for every new one that they adopt…Some regulations are actually deregulations, which reduce existing burdens, he said. Others implement spending programs, or are technical amendments, sometimes correcting errors. Michael Gaba, a life science partner in Holland & Knight, said Trump’s executive order was broadly written and gives the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget latitude in how to implement it. (Trump’s nominee for the post, Mick Mulvaney, is currently being considered by the Senate.) “There is discretion on how you evaluate the cost of old and new regulations,” Gaba said. “Before we can really analyze this we need to see what the OMB director says.”
Cadillac plan tax math may shape ACA attack
January 26, 2017 – LifeHealthPRO
Excerpt: “But the CBO might have exaggerated how much revenue the tax would actually raise, by failing to include the full effects of how much employers would change their behavior to avoid the tax, Fensholt said. "So, we think the GOP will want to have the Cadillac [plan] tax repeal re-scored by the CBO, perhaps even with direction to change the assumption about how employers will respond," Fensholt said. "Where the GOP takes the [group health] tax exclusion from there is anyone's guess."
GOP talks shifts from replacing ObamaCare to repairing it
February 2, 2017 – The Hill
Excerpt: “It’s a striking change in rhetoric that speaks to the complexities Republicans face in getting rid of the Affordable Care Act. Many of the law’s provisions are popular, and some parts of the law that the GOP does want to repeal could have negative repercussions on the parts seen as working. Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) is sounding a similar note. He notes that Republicans plan to use special budget rules known as reconciliation to prevent Democrats from filibustering a vote to repeal ObamaCare. The use of those rules won’t allow all of ObamaCare to be repealed."
Healthcare Reform: Déjà vu all Over Again
February 2, 2017 – Alston & Bird LLP
Excerpt: “24 presentation slides. Topics: [1] Repeal/replace activities: Executive Order(s); reconciliation activity to date; [2] Health Care Reform Proposals: Trump campaign proposals; Empowering Patients First (Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga.), Patients' Choice Act (Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., and others), other proposals; [3] Similarities/broad brush conclusions; [4] The 'Dirty Dozen of ACA' and how they may fare."
February 6, 2017 - Insurance Journal
Excerpt: "President Donald Trump said the process for coming up with a replacement for the Affordable Care Act could stretch into 2018, a longer time frame than he previously indicated. Trump’s comments came in an interview with Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly that aired on Sunday during the Super Bowl pre-game show. ... 'Maybe it’ll take till some time into next year, but we are certainly going to be in the process,” Trump said in the interview. “I would like to say by the end of the year, at least the rudiments, but we should have something within the year and the following year.'"
