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Kaiser Health News
Julie Rovner is a senior correspondent for Kaiser Health News. She is a former long-time health policy correspondent for NPR,
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Julie Rovner
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FROM Julie Rovner
To the Point
Health insurance subsidies: Now you see them… now you don't Insurance company subsidies are key to the Affordable Care Act. After President Trump cut them last week, he called Obamacare "virtually dead." Then, yesterday, a bipartisan group of Senators proposed to revive the subsidies for two more years -- and the President changed his tune — until this morning. Will any of this keep Obamacare alive? That may depend on the most conservative Republicans in Congress — still determined to dance on its grave. We hear about uncertainty for low-income consumers -- with this year's enrollment scheduled to start in less than two weeks.
To the Point
Does a dying Republican challenge mean new life for Obamacare? Republicans concede they broke seven years of promises last night when the Senate failed to pass so-called "skinny repeal" of Obamacare. Nobody wanted that exact bill to become law, but all GOP members voted for it — except Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and — in a moment of high drama — John McCain . What's next for the Party that's supposed to be "in control?"
To the Point
Senate healthcare bill: Reductions in medical care, cuts in taxes Republicans have promised to abolish Obamacare and cut taxes for the richest Americans. First the House, and now the Senate, would accomplish both at the same time… at the cost of shredding the safety net for millions of poor and elderly people. A few moderate Republicans say the Senate bill goes too far; some conservatives say it doesn't go far enough. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is trying to find an acceptable balance to pass it by the end of next week. We look at the elements and get a progress report.
To the Point
Will the Affordable Care Act become the Unaffordable Care Act? The Congressional Budget Office has some bad news for House Speaker Paul Ryan and others who've vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare. The CBO has pronounced that the American Health Care Act would leave 14 million people without health insurance next year, 24 million in years to come. Healthcare premiums for a 64-year old would go from $1700 a year to $14,600. Wealthier people would get tax cuts. That might not pass the House. In the Senate, it's likely dead on arrival, and it hardly meets the President's promise of "insurance for everybody." We look at the stumbling blocks to a promise Republicans have been making for seven years.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
What happens if Republicans defund Planned Parenthood? House Speaker Paul Ryan says he wants to defund Planned Parenthood as part of the Obamacare repeal. We find out how the nonprofit can survive without federal money.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Your questions about how Trump won, what it means, what's next After a historic and stunning presidential election, we want to hear from you. We’ll take your questions and comments live on air starting at 12pm PST.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Obama's Unfinished Business: Health Care This week on Press Play, we’re taking look at the president’s unfinished business. Today, we tackle the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare. The bill was signed into law five years ago. But Republicans have worked tirelessly to repeal, dismantle or defund it. Repealing it was new House Speaker Paul Ryan’s first agenda item. Will Obamacare remain intact after its namesake leaves office? How might the law evolve in the coming years?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Obamacare Challenges Kentucky businessman and Tea Party Republican Matt Bevin promised to repeal Obamacare if he was elected governor of Kentucky. Well yesterday, surprisingly, Bevin won that election. Until now, Kentucky has been seen as one of the Affordable Care Act’s success stories. So what went wrong?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Fight to Defund Planned Parenthood Republicans lost a Senate vote to defund Planned Parenthood Monday, but the fight will probably resume next month when Congress comes back from its August recess. This comes after several undercover videos were released that show Planned Parenthood officials discussing providing fetal tissue from abortions to medical researchers. However, those videos were selectively edited, and fetal tissue research is not only legal, it’s funded by Congress.
To the Point
Obama Defends Healthcare Law ahead of SCOTUS Ruling The US Supreme Court will soon rule on the case of King v. Burwell , which challenges the validity of Obamacare subsidies for millions of people who don't get health insurance through an employer. Today, the President defended the Affordable Care Act against its opponents in a speech to the Catholic Health Association. "It seems so cynical to want to take coverage away from millions of people, to take care away from people who need it the most, to punish millions with higher costs of care and unravel what's now been woven into the fabric of America." Julie Rovner is senior correspondent of Kaiser Health News .
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