House-Senate fix could break gridlock on 'surprise' medical bills

House-Senate fix could break gridlock on 'surprise' medical bills-politico: Bipartisan efforts to protect patients from “surprise” medical bills are regaining momentum after stalling out over the summer. Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the chairman of the Senate health panel announced a deal Sunday they said would rely on “a new system for independent dispute resolution often called arbitration." The lawmakers didn't elaborate.

Trump's health care focus puts GOP on edge

Trump's health care focus puts GOP on edge-thehill: President Trump has put the issue of health care back on the political front burner, providing ammunition to Democrats and worrying Republicans who think a new battle over ObamaCare will hurt their party in next year’s elections. Senate Republicans, defending 22 seats next year, thought they had put ObamaCare repeal behind them when they told Trump earlier this year that they have no intention of acting on a health care overhaul before the election.

House panel advances bill that would temporarily halt ObamaCare's employer mandate

House panel advances bill that would temporarily halt ObamaCare's employer mandate - The House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday approved legislation that would chip away at ObamaCare, including a measure that would temporarily repeal the law's employer mandate. 

CMS seeks information to reduce stark law burden

CMS seeks information to reduce stark law burden

Opioid crisis: House to vote on bills to fight painkiller addiction

Opioid crisis: House to vote on bills to fight painkiller addiction: "The nation’s growing addiction to prescription painkillers will command much of Congress’ attention over the next two weeks as House lawmakers consider dozens of bills that they hope will help curb the deadly opioid epidemic."

"Right to try" bill passes with Trump support, but will it help terminally ill patients? - CBS News

"Right to try" bill passes with Trump support, but will it help terminally ill patients? - CBS News: After a year in which President Donald Trump devoted much of his health policy attention to efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Mr. Trump used part of his State of the Union address in January to press Congress to focus attention in 2018 on a new health priority – the passage of "right to try" legislation. Now, four months later, legislation is on its way to the president's desk.

The Kodiak Kickback: the quiet payoff for an Alaska senator in the Senate health bill

The Kodiak Kickback: the quiet payoff for an Alaska senator in the Senate health bill-vox: Buried in Senate Republicans’ new health care bill is a provision to throw about $1 billion at states where premiums run 75 percent higher than the national average.

Crucial Health Bills Have a Fraught Path Amid Partisan Blowups

Crucial Health Bills Have a Fraught Path Amid Partisan Blowups-rollcall: A highly anticipated markup of a must-pass Food and Drug Administration bill was postponed Wednesday because of partisan sparring over the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey.

GOP leaders push back at critics of ObamaCare plan

GOP leaders push back at critics of ObamaCare plan-thehill: Senate Republican leaders are pushing back against the idea proposed by some in their caucus of passing an ObamaCare replacement at the same time that they repeal the law.

Health plans come out against tax bills

Health plans come out against tax bills-sacramentobee: California’s largest health plan group this week declared its opposition to both of the healthcare special session bills that would impose new taxes on managed-care organizations, the latest sign that a replacement for a soon-to-expire health plan tax is unlikely to emerge before lawmakers adjourn next week.

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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.