Murkowski Supports Exchange Premium Subsidy Extensions
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, says she supports extending enhanced premium subsidies in the Exchanges because of the help it has provided people to afford coverage. Betting odds are still that the GOP-controlled Congress will allow the subsidies to expire at the end of 2025. But Murkowski’s statement leaves some hope for a long-shot, one-year extension some time in 2025.
#exchanges #aca #obamacare
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5066188-murkowski-obamacare-premium-subsidies
Johnson Wins On Government Efficiency Pledge
In a razor-thin vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, won re-election on Speaker today with a commitment to advance President-elect Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda and work with Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) commission to reduce the size and scope of government. Before the vote, he took to X to pledge to appoint experts not associated with special interests to work with DOGE.
Additional article: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5065659-mike-johnson-clinches-speakership/
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#speakerjohnson #congress #trump #2025 #doge #healthcare
New Healthcare Congressional Heads
Republicans and Democrats have chosen the House and Senate committee chairs and ranking minority members for the next two years in each chamber. In the Senate, these leaders will usher through Trump nominees. In each chamber they will lead healthcare policy formulation and be heavily involved in cost-cutting efforts.
Here are the leaders of healthcare committees of cognizance:
Senate:
Finance – the senators switch. Mike Crapo becomes GOP Chair and Ron Wyden becomes Ranking Member.
HELP – the senators also switch. Bill Cassidy becomes GOP Chair and Bernie Sanders becomes Ranking Member. Sanders also won a coveted seat on Finance.
Appropriations Health Subcommittee – The new health subcommittee chair is the GOP’s Shelley Moore Capito. The new ranking member is Tammy Baldwin.
House:
Energy and Commerce Committee – The new chair is the GOP’s Brett Guthrie. The Ranking member remains Frank Pallone.
Ways and Means – Leaders remain as is. The GOP’s Jason Smith as chair and Richard Neal as ranking member.
House Education and Workforce – The new GOP chair is Tim Walberg. The ranking member remains Bobby Scott.
Appropriations Health Subcommittee – No changes here. GOP Chair is Robert Aderholt. The ranking member is Rosa DeLauro.
Additional article: https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/schumer-taps-new-dems-finance-health-committees
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#healthcare #congress #2025
Healthcare Coverage Coalition Ramps Up
A group of healthcare advocacy organizations have already begun ramping up to try to stop what they see as massive cuts and restructuring of healthcare coverage that is coming in 2025. Families USA, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers, National Organization for Women, NAACP, National Health Law Program, UnidosUS, and YWCA USA, among many other advocates, sent a letter to the new Congress saying they want to work with lawmakers to pass the “many well-vetted, commonsense and bipartisan proposals to address inefficiencies and inflated prices and eliminate waste from the health care system.”
I see their point. There are ways to take hundreds of millions out of the healthcare system without impacting coverage. That should be a priority.
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#healthcare #healthcarereform #medicare #medicaid #exchanges #aca #obamacare #coverage
— Marc S. Ryan
