At the DNC, the debate over drug prices gives way to charcuterie and cheese

At the DNC, the debate over drug prices gives way to charcuterie and cheese-stat: The drug industry didn’t really feel the heat here at the Democratic National Convention.

High-profile Harris, low-profile Sanchez campaign at Democratic convention

High-profile Harris, low-profile Sanchez campaign at Democratic convention-washingtonpost: Kamala Harris was seemingly everywhere you looked here during the Democratic National Convention.

Winners and losers of the Democratic National Convention

Winners and losers of the Democratic National Convention-thehill: Democrats swung between triumph and disaster here in four days that saw outstanding speeches and emotional moments, but also some stark displays of disunity.

Feds issue controversial star ratings for hospitals

Feds issue controversial star ratings for hospitals-thehill: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday unveiled a simplified star-based rating system for hospitals, a controversial move that sparked opposition from both industry groups and lawmakers.

Democratic Health Experts Expect GOP Will Compromise on Health Care With Clinton in White House

Democratic Health Experts Expect GOP Will Compromise on Health Care With Clinton in White House-morningconsult: Republicans will move away from calls to repeal the Affordable Care Act if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency in November, several Democratic health policy experts said Wednesday at a panel discussion focused on health care at the Democratic National Convention.

In Philly, Clinton allies say healthcare costs are next big battle

In Philly, Clinton allies say healthcare costs are next big battle-thehill: After six years of rock-solid defense, top healthcare advocates in the Democratic Party are now willing to acknowledge that the Affordable Care Act has fallen flat on affordability.

What to watch for on Day 3 of the Dem convention

What to watch for on Day 3 of the Dem convention-thehill:  The clouds are clearing over the Democratic Party as its heaviest hitters prepare to go to bat for Hillary Clinton on Wednesday.

Hospitals will pivot to post-acute care to thrive under cardiac bundles

Hospitals will pivot to post-acute care to thrive under cardiac bundles-modernhealthcare: In the days and months after a heart attack, a patient has a long list of tasks to remember as they recover: Take medications, eat nutritious foods, go to physical therapy, to name just a few.

One Court Case That Could Really Hurt Obamacare Insurers

One Court Case That Could Really Hurt Obamacare Insurers-morningconsult: There’s been a lot of bad news about rising Obamacare exchange premiums over the past few months. But things could get much worse for insurers (and consumers) if a court ruling brought by House Republicans against the administration prevails.

6 Ways the 2 Conventions Are Off to Different Starts

6 Ways the 2 Conventions Are Off to Different Starts-rollcall: One day in, the Democrats are behaving remarkably like the Republicans in this basic sense: The dissidents have made way more noise than the establishment was prepared for, so the vibe is much less like a coronation than the wedding for an arranged marriage where one side won’t contain its buyers’ remorse.

Democrats Struggle for Unity on First Day of Convention

Democrats Struggle for Unity on First Day of Convention-newyorktimes: Democratic Party leaders scrambled on Monday night to rescue their convention from political bedlam as supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders erupted in boos, jeers and protests against Hillary Clinton after an email leak showed that party officials had sought to undermine Mr. Sanders in their race for the nomination.

5 health and medicine issues to watch for at the Democratic convention

5 health and medicine issues to watch for at the Democratic convention-stat: Hillary Clinton led a health care reform effort in the 1990s, promoted medical research as a senator, and has been bashing price-hiking drug companies on the campaign trail and in TV ads.

Clinton's VP pick Kaine is a strong backer of improving and expanding the ACA

Clinton's VP pick Kaine is a strong backer of improving and expanding the ACA-modernhealthcare: The man selected by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as her vice presidential running mate is a strong ally of Clinton's in her push for improving the Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicaid to more states.

Trump Threatens to Pull U.S. Out of World Trade Organization

Trump Threatens to Pull U.S. Out of World Trade Organization-wallstreetjournal: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump threatened to pull the U.S. out of the World Trade Organization if membership in the global trade body interferes with his plan to impose penalties on companies that move American production offshore.

Mike Pence’s Health Policy Record Is A Mixed Bag

Mike Pence’s Health Policy Record Is A Mixed Bag-kaiserhealthnews: Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is in the spotlight this week as the man Donald Trump has picked to be his running mate. Pence’s decisions about health and health care in Indiana have drawn attention from within and outside the state. His record could be important in November, because Trump doesn’t have a legislative record at all.

Medical groups push to water down requirements for disclosing industry ties

Medical groups push to water down requirements for disclosing industry ties-stat: Nearly 100 national and state medical societies from around the United States are backing a Senate bill that would exempt drug and device makers from reporting payments made to doctors for receiving continuing medical education, or CME, sessions, medical journals, or textbooks. Among them are the American Medical Association and the American College of Cardiology.

Trump Pleases Congressional Republicans With Convention Speech

Trump Pleases Congressional Republicans With Convention Speech-rollcall: Congressional Republicans were largely impressed with GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump's speech Thursday as he formally accepted the nomination and closed the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Cruz Roils GOP Convention With Last Stand Against Trump

Cruz Roils GOP Convention With Last Stand Against Trump-nationaljournal: It was sab­ot­age night at the Re­pub­lic­an Na­tion­al Con­ven­tion on Wed­nes­day.

Is This The Last Convention Where The GOP Promises Obamacare Repeal?

Is This The Last Convention Where The GOP Promises Obamacare Repeal?-talkingpoints: What happens when a die-hard, uncompromising party position is a non-issue for the candidate topping the ticket? How Republicans are treating Obamacare at the GOP convention suggests, whether Donald Trump wins or not, repeal-fever might be close to breaking.

GOP Platform Leans on House Republican Health Care Plan

GOP Platform Leans on House Republican Health Care Plan-morningconsult: The Republican party’s 2016 platform, unveiled Monday, echoes many of the proposals included in the health care plan House Republicans laid out last month.

GOP chair won't back Trump on negotiating Medicare drug prices

GOP chair won't back Trump on negotiating Medicare drug prices-thehill: A top GOP chairman on Tuesday shot down one of Donald Trump’s most high-profile healthcare pitches: allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

What to watch for on Day 3 at the GOP convention

What to watch for on Day 3 at the GOP convention-thehill: Newly-minted vice presidential nominee Mike Pence highlights Wednesday’s third day of the Republican National Convention.

Obama, Biden back Kamala Harris in California Senate contest

Obama, Biden back Kamala Harris in California Senate contest-politico: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden -- weighing in on the only U.S. Senate general election contest between two Democratic women of color -- have jointly announced their endorsement of California Attorney General Kamala Harris in her race against Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Orange County.

Newt Gingrich, health IT booster, re-emerges

Newt Gingrich, health IT booster, re-emerges-politico: If nothing else, a Donald Trump presidency could boost the fortunes of Newt Gingrich, an early and loud voice for health IT. The former House speaker is reportedly on Trump’s shortlist for vice president, and the presumptive Republican nominee has promised Gingrich will play a role in his administration.

Ryan prevails over Trump in Republican health policy platform

Ryan prevails over Trump in Republican health policy platform-modernhealthcare: No sooner than I had filed a blog post late Monday afternoon asking when the Republican Party planned to release its overdue 2016 policy platform, lo and behold it appeared, a couple hours before the GOP national convention opened. Veteran policy watchers said it arrived unusually late, probably because of internal debates.

What to watch for on Day 2 at the GOP convention

What to watch for on Day 2 at the GOP convention-thehill: Republicans will officially nominate Donald Trump as their presidential nominee on Tuesday.

5 health and medicine issues to watch for at the GOP convention

5 health and medicine issues to watch for at the GOP convention-stat: Until now, health care hasn’t been a big part of Donald Trump’s campaign for the presidency.

In Cleveland, a Party at Odds With Itself

In Cleveland, a Party at Odds With Itself-rollcall: When the spotlight shines on the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, it will reveal a glitzy show put on by the ultimate showman, presumptive nominee Donald Trump. But it will also expose a party at odds with itself.

Sanders secures health-care promises from Clinton before expected endorsement

Sanders secures health-care promises from Clinton before expected endorsement-washingtonpost: Hillary Clinton, in moves aimed at securing an endorsement from Bernie Sanders, on Saturday highlighted her support for a “public option” in health insurance and proposed additional funding for community-based centers championed by her rival for the Democratic nomination.

CMS and FDA advocate for device identifiers on claims forms

CMS and FDA advocate for device identifiers on claims forms-mordernhealthcare: The heads of the CMS and the Food and Drug Administration want universal health insurance claims forms to include unique device identifiers. The UDI would improve post-market surveillance and provide for better value-based reimbursement based on device performance, they say.

Congress Recesses, Leaving More Stalemates Than Accomplishments

Congress Recesses, Leaving More Stalemates Than Accomplishments-nytimes: Congress limped out of town Thursday for a seven-week recess, leaving behind a trail of partisan fights, a failed bill to help fight the Zika virus, a stalemate on gun safety and a few mundane accomplishments that members hoped to sell as awesome to voters in an unsparing mood.

Congress already bickering over bill to avoid shutdown this fall

Congress already bickering over bill to avoid shutdown this fall-politico: Top Senate Republicans and Democrats are already at odds over a stopgap government spending measure that will almost certainly be necessary in September to stave off a shutdown, as Congress prepares to leave for an extended summer recess having sent no appropriations bills to the White House so far this year.

For Ryan and McConnell, a Year of Spoiled Strategies

For Ryan and McConnell, a Year of Spoiled Strategies-nationaljournal: Each lead­er had his own vis­ion for 2016. House Speak­er Paul Ry­an wanted to pro­ject a uni­fied policy agenda; Sen­ate Ma­jor­ity Lead­er Mitch Mc­Con­nell wished to prove Re­pub­lic­ans can gov­ern, mostly by restor­ing the ap­pro­pri­ations pro­cess.

Centrist Dems wary of public option push

Centrist Dems wary of public option push-thehill: Centrist Democrats appear reluctant to join their party’s embrace of a public option for ObamaCare.

Lawmakers to go on vacation

Lawmakers to go on vacation-ap: Congress is about to leave for a seven-week vacation without giving the Obama administration any of the $1.9 billion it's seeking to battle the Zika virus, and a Senate effort to revive the nuts-and-bolts process of passing agency budgets faces another setback at the hands of Democrats.

Could Bayh and the Reruns Reboot the Senate?

Could Bayh and the Reruns Reboot the Senate?-rollcall: Evan Bayh wants his old job back. So does Russ Feingold, who is mounting a rematch against his old foe, Sen. Ron Johnson, in Wisconsin. And Marco Rubio, who just last year suggested Senate votes mean nothing, has changed his mind, too, and now wants to stay.

Obama’s trade agenda losing critical support as McConnell calls TPP passage unlikely

Obama’s trade agenda losing critical support as McConnell calls TPP passage unlikely-washingtonpost: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday cast deep doubt on winning approval for President Obama’s trade agenda during his last weeks in office, suggesting that it will be up to the next occupant of the Oval Office to determine the direction of trade policy.

Senators clash in struggle to complete key bills before summer break

Senators clash in struggle to complete key bills before summer break-cnn: Senate Republicans and Democrats clashed Tuesday over how to resolve a handful of remaining bills before they leave for an extra-long summer recess at the end of the week.

Senate delays Cures bill, as window for major legislation narrows

Senate delays Cures bill, as window for major legislation narrows-stat: Lawmakers are officially giving up hopes of considering a bill to speed the development of new medical cures before they leave town for an extended recess, sharply increasingly the likelihood that the legislation might have to be taken up by the next Congress.

How an Arcane Spending Fight Could Alter the Federal Balance of Power

How an Arcane Spending Fight Could Alter the Federal Balance of Power-newyorktimes: The fight between House Republicans and the Obama administration over billions of dollars in disputed health care spending sounds arcane, but it could have major — some might say huge — consequences for our constitutional democracy.

Failed Spending Bills Pile Up in Senate Amid Dispute Over Budget Deal

Failed Spending Bills Pile Up in Senate Amid Dispute Over Budget Deal-newyorktimes: After years of warfare over fiscal cliffs, government shutdowns and the debt ceiling, congressional Republicans pledged in January to work diligently through the dozen regular spending bills needed to finance the federal government — and Democrats promised to cooperate.

This week: Congress eyes the exits in dash to recess

This week: Congress eyes the exits in dash to recess-thehill: Congress is poised to leave Washington for almost two months at the end of this week without passing funding to combat the Zika virus or completing work on spending bills to avoid a government shutdown.

The Coming Week: Last Chance for Legislating Before Conventions

The Coming Week: Last Chance for Legislating Before Conventions-morningconsult: Republican leaders will try to complete work on several pressing issues with Congress set to recess until September at the end of the week.

With spending bills stalled, focus turns to avoiding a shutdown fight this fall

With spending bills stalled, focus turns to avoiding a shutdown fight this fall-washingtonpost: Any chance Congress had this year of smoothly completing work on its annual spending bills is now all but dead, leaving Republican leaders to grapple with how to avoid a contentious fight in the weeks before the election over how to avoid the threat of a government shutdown.

A Deep Dive into the Race for the Senate

A Deep Dive into the Race for the Senate-nationaljournal: New polling numbers suggest that it is tighter and more unpredictable than analysts thought.

Study: Trump health care plan would make 18M uninsured

Study: Trump health care plan would make 18M uninsured-ap: Donald Trump's health care plan would make 18 million people uninsured, but also lower premiums significantly for policies purchased directly by consumers, according to an independent study released Thursday.

Trump visits the Hill to mend fences with GOP — and brings his hammer

Trump visits the Hill to mend fences with GOP — and brings his hammer-washingtonpost: Donald Trump came to Capitol Hill on Thursday to build and reinforce bridges with members of Congress less than two weeks before the Republican National Convention. Instead, he burned some to the ground.

2016 GOP Vice Presidential Power Rankings

2016 GOP Vice Presidential Power Rankings-nationaljournal: The vice pres­id­en­tial se­lec­tion pro­cess is typ­ic­ally among a cam­paign’s most guarded secrets. Don­ald Trump, however, is parad­ing around his po­ten­tial run­ning mates in plain sight.

Sanders confirms endorsement chatter

Sanders confirms endorsement chatter-politico: Bernie Sanders confirmed on Wednesday night that he is in discussions with the Hillary Clinton campaign about a potential endorsement of her candidacy, adding that he anticipates a “coming together” of the two campaigns.

Trump paying first visit to GOP rank-and-file in Congress

Trump paying first visit to GOP rank-and-file in Congress-ap: Donald Trump kept his silence and waved as he arrived in a motorcade Thursday on Capitol Hill for his first visit with rank-and-file congressional Republicans, private sessions with the House and Senate GOP caucuses.

Congress Struggling to Finish To-Do List Before Summer Break

Congress Struggling to Finish To-Do List Before Summer Break-rollcall: With only seven working days left before a seven-week break, the House and Senate may adjourn without taking any meaningful action on gun control, Zika funding, opioid abuse and several outstanding appropriations bills.

Court Strikes Down Obama Health Care Rule on Insurance Standards

Court Strikes Down Obama Health Care Rule on Insurance Standards-newyorktimes:  A federal appeals court has ruled that consumers must be allowed to buy certain types of health insurance that do not meet the stringent standards of the Affordable Care Act, deciding that the administration had gone beyond the terms of federal law.

Should We Bring Back Earmarks?

Should We Bring Back Earmarks?-rollcall: Barbara A. Mikulski, who’s retiring this fall as the longest-tenured woman in congressional history, minces few words and suffers fools hardly at all. So there’s little surprise the Democratic senator had a tart bit of advice to impart to her colleagues last week.

Lawmakers eye omnibus as spending bills lag

Lawmakers eye omnibus as spending bills lag-politico: As Congress prepares to hightail it out of here until September, lawmakers are set to leave their most fundamental constitutional duty — funding the government — almost entirely unfinished.

Obama signs Puerto Rico debt bill

Obama signs Puerto Rico debt bill-thehill: President Obama on Thursday signed a massive rescue package to address Puerto Rico’s debt crisis — just one day before the island must make a $2 billion payment.

Donald Trump starts a trade war — with the Republican Party

Donald Trump starts a trade war — with the Republican Party-washingtonpost: The unusual battle between Donald Trump and much of the Republican establishment on international trade is rapidly escalating, as the presumptive GOP nominee rails against business groups and members of his own party while defenders of sweeping free-trade pacts rebuke him.

A Deep Dive into the Race for the Senate

A Deep Dive into the Race for the Senate-nationjournal: The word “volat­ile” doesn’t be­gin to de­scribe the fight for a Sen­ate ma­jor­ity this year. With the cur­rent split of 54 Re­pub­lic­ans and 46 Demo­crats, the Demo­crats need a net gain of four seats if they re­tain the White House (the in­com­ing vice pres­id­ent would break the tie in that event) and five seats if Re­pub­lic­ans win the pres­id­en­tial race.