Republicans Should Reform Obamacare, Not Repeal It

Republicans Should Reform Obamacare, Not Repeal It-theatlantic: Six of nine justices of the Supreme Court rebuffed an invitation to wrench healthcare subsidies from as many as 6.5 million people enrolled in federal exchanges. While many Republican members of Congress are privately relieved that the court avoided a political crisis, conservatives outside Congress stand aghast and enraged.

Voting-Rights Advocates Get Win at Supreme Court

Voting-Rights Advocates Get Win at Supreme Court-rollcall: Monday’s big election law news came from the Supreme Court’s penultimate decision of the term upholding Arizona’s congressional districts. But before handing down its last three decisions, the court made voting-rights advocates happy by deciding not to review a different election case. “Arizona citizens can continue to participate in voter registration drives without worrying about not having proof of citizenship documents,” Shirley Sandelands of the League of Women Voters of Arizona said in a statement Monday.

Hillary: We must defend ObamaCare

Hillary: We must defend ObamaCare-thehill: Democratic 2016 front-runner Hillary Clinton released a campaign video Monday trumpeting the benefits of ObamaCare just days after the law secured a major victory in the Supreme Court.

After King v. Burwell, Senate Could Start Obamacare Votes

After King v. Burwell, Senate Could Start Obamacare Votes-morningconsult: The GOP’s best chance of knocking down the Affordable Care Act disappeared Thursday when the Supreme Court sided with the administration in King v. Burwell. With the case decided, the Senate could start holding the anti-Obamacare votes leadership said they wanted to attempt when they took the chamber this year.

Mike Lee’s Missed ‘Fast-Track’ Vote Causes Discord, Confusion

Mike Lee’s Missed ‘Fast-Track’ Vote Causes Discord, Confusion-rollcall: Sen. Mike Lee had said he supported a stand-alone measure to revive Trade Promotion Authority, but when the vote was called, the Republican was still in Utah.

King Ruling Bodes Well For The Many Small Bipartisan Health Bills

King Ruling Bodes Well For The Many Small Bipartisan Health Bills- insidehealthpolicy: Although the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold Obamacare subsidies likely averts a major GOP overhaul of the health care system, it increases the likelihood that Congress will pass a slew of bipartisan health care bills, such as the House 21st Century Cures legislation and other smaller bills, most of which affect Medicare and Medicaid, that the House Ways & Means and Senate Finance committees recently passed or are writing, health care lobbyists and consultants say.

Senate Appropriations Passes HHS Spending Bill With ACA Funding, CMS Cuts

Senate Appropriations Passes HHS Spending Bill With ACA Funding, CMS Cuts-insidehealthpolicy: The Senate Appropriations Committee passed Thursday (June 25) its 2016 HHS spending bill with cuts to CMS and limits on Affordable Care Act funding, but Vice Chair Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) said defunding elements of the ACA is the “mother of all poison pill riders,” and Democrats raised the specter of a government shutdown if the two parties don't negotiate a bipartisan budget deal.

TAX REFORM WORKING GROUPS CLOSING IN ON DEADLINE

TAX REFORM WORKING GROUPS CLOSING IN ON DEADLINE-politico: Today is supposed to be the (already-extended) deadline for the Senate Finance Committee’s five tax reform working groups to turn in their recommendations, but aides are now saying they’ll come in by the end of the month. K Street is watching the international tax group — led by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — especially closely. According to a staffer, rumors of a legislative draft already being scored by JCT are premature — some lobbyists speculate Portman and Schumer will just release a report, rather than legislative text. But an “innovation box” is anticipated.

'Cures' Bill Sparks Upton-vs.-Price Spending Squabble

'Cures' Bill Sparks Upton-vs.-Price Spending Squabble -nationaljournal: For Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, just passing a medical-innovation bill is not enough. The term-limited chairman wants to knock it out of the park, sending a strong message to the Senate and securing a legacy item that could potentially save lives.

House Leadership Begins Whipping Votes For Cures Bill- insidehealthpolicy: House leadership plans to begin whipping votes for 21st Century Cures, as Energy & Commerce continues to have conversations on offsets for the legislation, according to sources and a GOP leadership email.

Hatch Vows To Work On 5 Bills Left Out Of Package Due To CBO Scores

Hatch Vows To Work On 5 Bills Left Out Of Package Due To CBO Scores-insidehealthpolicy: Senate Finance Committee members are trying to lower the score of four Medicare bills that were left off a slate of bills they passed Wednesday (June 24) because of their cost, and they may take up a bill that would end the critical access hospital 96-hour rule

ELEVEN DEMOCRATS SUPPORT IPAB REPEAL

ELEVEN DEMOCRATS SUPPORT IPAB REPEAL- politico: House Republicans managed to pull 11 Democrats to their side in Tuesday night's vote to repeal the ACA's Independent Payment Advisory Board — despite the bill's $7.1 billion pay-for coming straight out of the ACA's Public Health and Prevention Fund. Thirty-five lawmakers didn't vote. The final tally: 244 to 154. The board, an Affordable Care Act program designed to recommend policies to make Medicare more efficient, has yet to convene for any action or have members appointed. Yet it has drawn the ire of lawmakers in both parties who fear it might lead to cuts to seniors' care.

CORNYN: SENATE COULD USE MED DEVICE TAX REPEAL FOR KING

CORNYN: SENATE COULD USE MED DEVICE TAX REPEAL FOR KING-politico: The Senate is teeing up a vote on the medical device tax repeal bill that the House passed last week — and Sen. John Cornyn suggested Tuesday that the legislation could act as a vehicle for his chamber's response to a ruling in the King case. "If that one bill came to the floor, then anybody could offer any other suggestion they'd want about Obamacare," he told POLITICO. "I would suggest to you that we're going to have a big debate about that in connection with King v. Burwell." Earlier this week, Senate leadership began the process to allow the House's medical device tax repeal bill to bypass committee consideration and head straight to the floor.

Senate Appropriations Bill Raises NIH Funding, Slashes CMS Spending

Senate Appropriations Bill Raises NIH Funding, Slashes CMS Spending-insidehealthpolicy: The Senate Appropriations health subcommittee approved a fiscal 2016 HHS spending bill that raises NIH funding by $2 billion and cuts CMS by $1.15 billion while defunding the Affordable Care Act Tuesday (June 23), though subcommittee ranking Democrat Patty Murray (WA) said the partisan, sequester level bill has no chance of becoming law and urged lawmakers to reach a bipartisan budget deal like lawmakers did in 2013.

'Cures' Would Cost FDA $872 Million, Device Provisions A Big Chunk

'Cures' Would Cost FDA $872 Million, Device Provisions A Big Chunk-insidehealthpolicy: The Congressional Budget Office estimates that provisions in the House 21st Century Cures Act -- including priority review for medical devices and biomarker development language -- would cost FDA $872 million, more than $300 million over what the bill reportedly mandates in funding for the agency and closer to what FDA had estimated the bill would cost the agency. FDA estimated it would cost more than $900 million, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

Lawmakers Scramble To Pass Flurry Of Health Bills As King Ruling Looms

Lawmakers Scramble To Pass Flurry Of Health Bills As King Ruling Looms-insidehealthpolicy: Lawmakers are trying to get as far as they can with health care legislation before the U.S. Supreme Court announces the King v. Burwell ruling, which could happen as early as Thursday (June 25) and after which lawmakers are expected to be focused on responding to the decision for some time to come. The Senate Finance Committee Wednesday will mark up a whopping 12 health care bills the same day that the House Energy & Commerce health subcommittee holds a hearing on Medicaid demonstrations and the House Ways & Means oversight subcommittee holds a hearing on rising health insurance premiums. The House on Tuesday is scheduled to finish a vote on a bill to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board.

House Votes To Repeal Device Tax, Again

House Votes To Repeal Device Tax, Again-graysheet:FDA medical device chief Jeffrey Shuren said he is comfortable with the breakthrough devices provision in the House 21st Century Cures Act, but he worries the agency might not have enough funding to implement it if the bill is passed into law

FDA Device Chief Okay With Cures Breakthrough Plan, But Lacks Funding

FDA Device Chief Okay With Cures Breakthrough Plan, But Lacks Funding-insidehealthpolicy: FDA medical device chief Jeffrey Shuren said he is comfortable with the breakthrough devices provision in the House 21st Century Cures Act, but he worries the agency might not have enough funding to implement it if the bill is passed into law

Senators Take Up 'Cures' Least Burdensome Review Provision, Add PMA Postmarket Data Shift

Senators Take Up 'Cures' Least Burdensome Review Provision, Add PMA Postmarket Data Shift-insidehealthpolicy: A Senate bipartisan duo introduced a bill Thursday (June 18) that includes provisions similar to language in the House 21st Century Cures Act aimed at eliminating “burdens” slowing down FDA's consideration of new, innovative medical devices by ensuring agency reviewers use least-burdensome requirements in their review, permit centralized, non-local institutional review boards for device trials, and require FDA to update guidance on Clinical Laboratory Improvements Act (CLIA) waivers. However, the senators go beyond the House language by also allowing for reliance on postmarket information for premarket approval (PMA) devices as part of the least burdensome requirements.

Upton Delays Cures Floor Vote To Work On Offsets, Part D LIS Copay Shift Briefly Considered

Upton Delays Cures Floor Vote To Work On Offsets, Part D LIS Copay Shift Briefly Considered-insidehealthpolicy: House Energy & Commerce Chair Fred Upton (R-MI) has signaled he won't bring his 21st Century Cures bill to the floor next week as he continues to negotiate offsets, with a controversial proposal to eliminate copays for generic drugs, while raising the copays for brands, in order to steer low-income subsidy beneficiaries towards generic drugs, considered but quickly taken off the table, according to industry lobbyists.

COLLINS WELCOMES TOTAL HILL LOVE FOR NIH

COLLINS WELCOMES TOTAL HILL LOVE FOR NIH-politico: After 12 years of flat funding and NIH Director Francis Collins singing the sequester blues, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are now competing to one-up each other and boost NIH's budget. Even tea partiers are voicing a passionate commitment to give the medical research agency more resources. House appropriators are pushing a more than $1 billion budget increase for NIH in FY 2016, and the Senate is expected to go higher. Meanwhile, the 21st Century Cures effort could direct another $10 billion over 5 years to the agency.

FDA Approves Edwards' Sapien 3 TAVR System Earlier Than Expected

FDA Approves Edwards' Sapien 3 TAVR System Earlier Than Expected-graysheet:FDA has approved Edwards Lifesciences Corp.'s Sapien 3 third-generation balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for high risk and inoperable aortic stenosis patients based on short-term data from the PARTNER II trial rather than the long-term data it has required for TAVR systems in the past.

Some House Democrats Join Republicans to Repeal Part of Obamacare

Some House Democrats Join Republicans to Repeal Part of Obamacare-nationaljournal: With the support of nearly 50 Democrats, the House passed legislation Thursday to repeal the medical device tax—a much-despised part of Obamacare. The bill came to the floor as Capitol Hill anxiously awaits the decision in a Supreme Court case that could potentially change the future of Obamacare.

House Votes To Repeal Device Tax, Again

House Votes To Repeal Device Tax, Again-graysheet: Congressional leaders have again voted to repeal the 2.3 percent medical device tax criticized by industry for stifling innovation and jobs, and sent it to the Senate for approval. Concerns still surround whether the bill is approvable without an offset.

With Democratic help, GOP House ready to repeal medical tax, other parts of Obama health law

With Democratic help, GOP House ready to repeal medical tax, other parts of Obama health law-ap: Despite White House veto threats, the House is ready to vote to repeal taxes on medical devices and kill a Medicare advisory board that foes say would ration health care as the chamber aims its latest whack at President Barack Obama's health care law.

Congress Trade pact proponents claim new momentum

Trade pact proponents claim new momentum-politico: House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the calculation quickly: If Congress didn’t act swiftly to send President Barack Obama a fast-track trade bill, it might never get done.

FDA Approves Edwards' Sapien 3 TAVR System

FDA Approves Edwards' Sapien 3 TAVR System-graysheet: The third-generation transcatheter aortic valve has been available in Europe for over a year, will have a long head-start on rival Medtronic's next generation TAVR, Evolut R, in the U.S. market.

How Would Hillary Clinton Pay for Her Obamacare ‘Fix’?

How Would Hillary Clinton Pay for Her Obamacare‘Fix’?-wallstreetjournal: In a recent interview with the Des Moines Register, Hillary Clinton outlined several elements of Obamacare that she said she would seek to change as president. Her proposals illustrate how the fiscal impact of the law could increase significantly from what was expected when the legislation passed in March 2010.

White House threatens veto of ObamaCare device tax repeal

White House threatens veto of ObamaCare device tax repeal-thehill:The White House on Monday threatened to veto a bill to repeal ObamaCare's unpopular medical device tax. The bill is headed for a vote in the House later this week, and the 2.3 percent tax on medical devices has drawn criticism from some members of both parties who say it stifles innovation.

GOP's Obamacare Bills Won't Touch Hill Health Insurance

GOP's Obamacare Bills Won't Touch Hill Health Insurance-nationaljournal: Millions of Americans are wondering whether they'll lose their health insurance subsidies, anxiously awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on the King v. Burwell case. But there's a smaller group that doesn't need to worry—members of Congress and their staff.

Obamacare ‘Death Panel’ Might Not Get To Do Anything Before Its Repeal

Obamacare ‘Death Panel’ Might Not Get To Do Anything Before Its Repeal-nationaljournal: If a "death panel" never rationed health care, did it really earn the name? That's the question for Congress this week: The House soon will vote to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board established by the Affordable Care Act, dubbed at various times a "death panel" and rationing board by its opponents.

Who Will Negotiate the Budget Deal?

Who Will Negotiate the Budget Deal?-rollcall: With a little more than 100 days left to avoid a government shutdown, the federal budget process is about to lurch to a halt and it remains unclear who can get it going again.

DeGette and Upton: New cures for the 21st century

DeGette and Upton: New cures for the 21st century-denverpost: Many have lamented the harsh and meaningless debates in Washington. As lawmakers and public servants ourselves, we all too often share in that frustration. That is why we are especially excited to have formed a bipartisan partnership to support innovation in medical research that helps deliver treatments and cures to the patients who need them.

Hillary Clinton takes a stand on trade - kind of

Hillary Clinton takes a stand on trade - kind of-cnn: Hillary Clinton isn't helping President Barack Obama salvage a free trade agenda that congressional Democrats are on the verge of wrecking.

But she's also not taking a position on the trade promotion authority bill, which is crucial to determining whether the linchpin of Obama's trade effort -- the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership -- ever gets done.

Two More Pieces Of Obamacare May Be On Their Way Out

Two More Pieces Of Obamacare May Be On Their Way Out-forbes: House Republicans have launched another assault on Obamacare. This time, they have some support from their foes on the other side of the aisle.

Ted Cruz fights GOP approach on Obamacare subsidies

Ted Cruz fights GOP approach on Obamacare subsidies-politico: Ted Cruz is planning to battle his party over Obamacare again — this time, if Senate Republicans seek to extend subsidies that could be killed by the Supreme Court as soon as this month.

New Evidence Health Spending Is Growing Faster Again

New Evidence Health Spending Is Growing Faster Again -wallstreetjournal: Like Californians waiting for the record drought to lift, health cost watchers like me have been waiting for health spending to begin to grow more rapidly again as the economy strengthens. It looks like that may now be beginning to occur.

Trade Rule Passes Despite Conservative Mutiny

Trade Rule Passes Despite Conservative Mutiny-rollcall: Plans to vote Friday on Trade Promotion Authority and Trade Adjustment Assistance could still fall through, but the House is moving ahead on a multi-pronged strategy to send the measures to the president’s desk by the week’s end.

Applauding the 21st Century Cures Initiative

Applauding the 21st Century Cures Initiative-rollcall: Sometimes you have to tip your hat for a job well done. That is the case with the 21st Century Cures Act, recently passed unanimously by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Nancy Pelosi flexes muscle ahead of trade vote

Nancy Pelosi flexes muscle ahead of trade vote-politico: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had already delivered the message to Speaker John Boehner: Democrats could not support Medicare cuts to pay for a job-training program that is critical to pass fast-track trade authority for President Barack Obama.

Chances of Changing Dodd-Frank Appear to Rest With Handful of Moderate Democrats

Chances of Changing Dodd-Frank Appear to Rest With Handful of Moderate Democrats-rollcall: A handful of moderate Senate Democrats will probably determine whether Congress can pass legislation making the most significant changes to the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul since it was enacted five years ago, in the wake of the economic crisis.

Medicare Dispute Could Derail Friday Trade Votes

Medicare Dispute Could Derail Friday Trade Votes-rollcall: A lingering dispute over language regarding Medicare cuts could delay House Republican leaders’ plan to put a package of four trade bills related to Trade Promotion Authority on the floor Friday.

Mitch McConnell’s fiendishly clever strategy for coming Obamacare war

Mitch McConnell’s fiendishly clever strategy for coming Obamacare war-washingtonpost: The Affordable Care Act is facing another challenge at the Supreme Court in King v. Burwell, which deals with subsidies for health insurance. The case could cut out a major provision of Obamacare, causing the law to unravel.

House, Senate closing in on ObamaCare backup, senator says

House, Senate closing in on ObamaCare backup, senator says-thehill: Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said Tuesday that House and Senate Republicans are closing in on a backup plan for ObamaCare subsidies that they will release should the Supreme Court cripple the healthcare law this month.

How the next few weeks could determine the fate of Obama’s legacy

How the next few weeks could determine the fate of Obama’s legacy-washingtonpost: June is shaping up as a time of reckoning for President Obama — and his legacy. Over the next three weeks, he could record significant wins on three of his most ambitious initiatives. Or have each of them blow up in his face.

Federal Panel Backs Approval of New Drug to Fight Heart Attacks

Federal Panel Backs Approval of New Drug to Fight Heart Attacks-newyorktimes: An expert group recommended on Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration approve a powerful new drug to protect against heart attacks. If approved, it would be the first in a major new class of medicines in a generation that significantly lower levels of cholesterol, the leading cause of heart disease.

Paul Ryan Still Sees Chance for Common Ground on International Taxes

Paul Ryan Still Sees Chance for Common Ground on International Taxes-bloomberg: The Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee is focusing on measures to help make U.S. business more competitive.

Rep. Van Hollen backs Hoyer to succeed Pelosi

Rep. Van Hollen backs Hoyer to succeed Pelosi-politico: Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has given no indication she’s ready to step down from her post running the House Democratic Caucus, but that didn’t stop Rep. Chris Van Hollen from offering an early endorsement for a successor.

Can Marco Rubio Save the GOP in 2016?

Can Marco Rubio Save the GOP in 2016?-rollcall: Most of the candidates frequently mentioned as being in the top tier in the Republican race — Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul — are non-Hispanic white men. The lone exception is Rubio.

Hospitals Discharge Patients to Maximize Medicare Payments, Study Finds

Hospitals Discharge Patients to Maximize Medicare Payments, Study Finds-wallstreetjournal: Long-term-care hospitals discharge a disproportionately large share of Medicare patients during a window when they stand to make the most money from reimbursements under the federal program, according to a study in the journal Health Affairs.

Obama to State His Case for Health Law Before Justices Weigh In

Obama to State His Case for Health Law Before Justices Weigh In-newyorktimes: Days before the Supreme Court hands down a ruling that could drastically undermine the Affordable Care Act, President Obama will deliver a speech on Tuesday extolling his health care law as a moral and practical victory that was decades in the making.

‘Fast-Track’ Trade Fight Nears Crucial House Vote

‘Fast-Track’ Trade Fight Nears Crucial House Vote-rollcall: Backers of “fast-track” legislation in both parties have enough confidence in Trade Promotion Authority’s likelihood of passing the House to talk about a possible vote later this week. But enough uncertainty remains that Republican leaders haven’t yet added the bill — which would clear the way for President Barack Obama to move forward on a 12-nation Pacific trade deal — to this week’s floor schedule.

Harvard Professors Take Aim At 'Cures' Registry, Biomarker Development Language

Harvard Professors Take Aim At 'Cures' Registry, Biomarker Development Language-insidehealthpolicy: Two Harvard professors of medicine expressed concern in a New England Journal of Medicine article that proposals included in the 21st Century Cures Act could lead to “less salutary” outcomes for patients, citing provisions that would allow companies to rely on clinical experience to support a new drug indication for already approved drugs, as well as language that waives informed consent requirements for certain medical device sponsors if the proposed clinical testing poses minimal risk.

Give Obama trade-promotion authority (Op Ed)

Give Obama trade-promotion authority-washingtonpost: The post-WWII leaders who brilliantly designed an international order to support free markets understood that either we would write the rules of the game or someone else would. They were haunted by the protectionism of the 1930s that worsened the Great Depression and arguably contributed to World War II. They believed that free trade was an essential pillar of economic liberty, prosperity and peace.

McConnell Plans Busy Summer, But No Tax Reform

McConnell Plans Busy Summer, But No Tax Reform-morningconsult: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is plotting an ambitious summer agenda aimed at demonstrating the Republican-led Congress can govern along with Democrats and the White House — but a major tax-code overhaul won’t be a part of the agenda this year.

HHS’s Burwell Sees Spike in Uninsured if Supreme Court Rules Against Health Law

HHS’s Burwell Sees Spike in Uninsured if Supreme Court Rules Against Health Law-wallstreetjournal: Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell said Thursday that a potential Supreme Court decision voiding the health law’s tax credits would create widespread disruption, but that federal officials were prepared to work with states to mitigate the effects.

House Liberals Hope Drug-Cost Concerns Will Help Kill Trade Bill

House Liberals Hope Drug-Cost Concerns Will Help Kill Trade Bill-nationaljournal: The fate of President Obama's fast-track trade authority bill will lie partly with a handful of House Democrats—and with the ability of its opponents and supporters to convince them that the deal will (or won't) be a disaster for prescription-drug prices.

What if the White House Wins the Supreme Court Obamacare Case?

What if the White House Wins the Supreme Court Obamacare Case?-nationaljournal: If the Supreme Court later this month strikes down Obamacare subsidies in states with federal insurance exchanges, the narrative is simple: The health care law could be fatally crippled and marketplaces will fall into 34 simultaneous death spirals.

CA State Senate OKs measures on immigrant healthcare, e-cigarettes

CA State Senate OKs measures on immigrant healthcare, e-cigarettes-latimes: The CA state Senate approved a hotly debated measure Tuesday that would provide healthcare coverage to many immigrants who reside in California illegally.

Panel votes to repeal ObamaCare tax

Panel votes to repeal ObamaCare tax-thehill: The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday voted to repeal two pieces of ObamaCare. The committee advanced measures that would repeal the medical device tax and a cost-cutting panel known as the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Both bills are scheduled to go to the House floor the week of June 15.

Congress May Finally Kill Obamacare's Medical Device Tax

Congress May Finally Kill Obamacare's Medical Device Tax-huffpost: A bill repealing the Affordable Care Act’s medical device tax advanced from the House Ways and Means Committee to the House floor on Tuesday.

Medical device tax: House Ways & Means schedules markup for repeal bill

Medical device tax: House Ways & Means schedules markup for repeal bill-massdevice: The powerful Ways & Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives is slated to convene a markup session for 1 of the bills circulating on Capitol Hill that would do away with the medical device tax.

China investigates top medical device official

China investigates top medical device official-massdevice: China launched an investigation into a top official who oversees the country’s medical devices sector, a disciplinary watchdog said, the 2nd healthcare official to be probed last week.

House to take fresh aim at Obamacare’s medical device tax

House to take fresh aim at Obamacare’s medical device tax-marketwatch: House lawmakers are gearing up to take fresh aim at the Affordable Care Act’s tax on medical devices. The House Ways and Means Committee will consider a bill Tuesday to repeal the 2.3% excise tax on sales of devices including pacemakers and stents. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Erik Paulsen, a Minnesota Republican.

Federal Investigators Fault Medicare’s Reliance on Doctors for Pay Standards

Federal Investigators Fault Medicare’s Reliance on Doctors for Pay Standards-newyorktimes: The government relies too heavily on advice from the American Medical Association in deciding how much to pay doctors under Medicare, and the decisions may be biased because the doctors have potential conflicts of interest, federal investigators say in a new report. This reliance on the association, combined with flaws in data collected by the influential doctors’ group, “could result in inaccurate Medicare payment rates,” the investigators said.

Week ahead: Conservatives to unveil ObamaCare replacement

Week ahead: Conservatives to unveil ObamaCare replacement-thehill: Another Republican ObamaCare replacement plan is coming out as a Supreme Court decision looms. On Tuesday, the conservative Republican Study Committee will be announcing its ObamaCare replacement plan, the American Health Care Reform Act.

Where They Stand: O'Malley on Some Issues of 2016 Campaign

Where They Stand: O'Malley on Some Issues of 2016 Campaign-newyorktimes: Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has declared his 2016 Democrat Presidential bid. O’Malley successfully raised taxes during his years as Governor to help build infrastructure and help the polluted Chesapeake Bay. Even though he did raise taxes- not popular by the way- during his first term as Governor, he successfully defeated his opponent Republican Gob. Robert Ehrlich in 2010. Still AP reports, “After more tax increases in his second term, O'Malley enters the Democratic primary as a longshot with limited name recognition.