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Senate Republicans Introduce New Health Care Bill

By Jeralyn, Section Legislation
Posted on Thu Jul 13, 2017 at 02:25:46 PM EST
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Here is the new version of the Senate Republicans Health care bill. The Atlantic has some details.

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    Senate Republicans Introduce New Health Care Bill | 16 comments (16 topical)

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    I think if this thing goes down (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jul 17, 2017 at 08:27:17 PM EST
    It really could have far reaching effects.

    Just as passing it would have.  Passing it would have been a huge win for Trump.  Can you imagine the dancing on the grave of the ACA?

    Losing is also IMO huge.  It will alter the political world in ways subtle and profound.

    Deader (none / 0) (#1)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 13, 2017 at 05:28:15 PM EST
    Than Elvis

    Deader and deader (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 18, 2017 at 07:49:38 PM EST
    At least two deaths in the last 24 hours.  The original and then the plan to have a vote on repeal only.

    Both DOA.

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    thr craziest bit (none / 0) (#2)
    by linea on Thu Jul 13, 2017 at 09:48:50 PM EST
    is of course sen. cruz's proposal which even the health insurance corporations oppose.

    [from the linked article] i wonder if this is the threshold - no more than two republicans opposing - for all legislation?

    McConnell needs to pick up support from both ends of the ideological spectrum. He can afford only two Republican defections.


    I hope so (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Lora on Fri Jul 14, 2017 at 08:17:26 AM EST
    i wonder if this is the threshold - no more than two republicans opposing - for all legislation?

    It would mean the Dems finally grew a pair (and I am not being sexist -- women have some pairs of their own!).

    Payback would be sweet.

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    Senate Trumpcare 2.0, (none / 0) (#4)
    by KeysDan on Sat Jul 15, 2017 at 11:28:21 AM EST
    has most of what is in Senate Trumpcare l.0, and most of the hits of House Trumpcare l.0/2.0: each in its own lovable way: demolishes Medicaid over about the same period of time; cuts federal subsides for insurance, eliminates protections for preexisting conditions, and provides tax breaks, bigly for the insurance industry and still pretty good for rich individuals (the shortage can be picked up in the next legislation: tax "reform"), including in Senate Trumpcare 2.0, the ability to pay for insurance through tax-advantaged health savings accounts--a benefit accruing mostly to those of higher incomes.

    Senate Trumpcare 2.0 also bears similarity with Trumpbudget l.0.   The budget presented by Mulvaney counted $2 trillion, twice.... still considered to be real money and does make the budget look better.
    <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/senate-republicans-double-dip-obamacare-repeal">
      Senate Trumpcare 2.0 also has an "accounting" </a>flaw, in that the bill adds $70 billion to a stability fund for the states, but the Cruz Amendment then re-directs that same $70 billion to make payments to insurers that provide "essential health benefits", those compliant with standards, as well as non-compliant insurance policies.  

    It seems as if math errors in Republican legislation are a feature not a bug.

    This seems important (none / 0) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jul 15, 2017 at 09:13:07 PM EST

    Sen. John McCain underwent surgery to remove a blood clot above his left eye and will stay in Arizona to recover next week - denying Republicans a key vote in their push to repeal Obamacare, where the GOP already has no room for error.

    Republican leaders want to hold a procedural vote to launch debate on its health care plan next week, with Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn telling the Associated Press that he expected the chamber to vote to take up its bill on "Tuesday night or Wednesday at the latest."

    But McCain's (R-Ariz.) absence from the Senate significantly complicates those plans. Two GOP opponents of the Obamacare repeal bill - Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky - have already said they will not vote to proceed to the measure. That means Republicans, who holds 52 votes in the Senate, already could not afford to lose any other GOP senator for the procedural vote.
    McConnell has said he will delay votes (none / 0) (#6)
    by caseyOR on Sat Jul 15, 2017 at 11:14:56 PM EST
    on the health care bill until McCain returns. McCain is expected to spend a week recuperating in Arizona before returning to the Senate.

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    Yes, McCain (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jul 17, 2017 at 07:10:41 AM EST
    needs to recuperate from his surgery in one of his homes, and benefit from the best medical/health care available, so that he is fit to come back to DC to vote to take away health care benefits from millions of Americans, including the poorest, and cut taxes for the richest.

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    McCain is at Mayo Clinic Phoenix (none / 0) (#8)
    by RickyJim on Mon Jul 17, 2017 at 09:02:40 AM EST
    The book "Al Franken: Giant of the Senate" points out that the Mayo Clinic is able to cut down costs because it pays it's doctors, salaries.  It doesn't use the more common model of having doctors being paid by the procedures they perform.  I've posted a review of the book.

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    Agreed, "Al Franken: (none / 0) (#9)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jul 17, 2017 at 11:17:22 AM EST
    Giant of the Senate," by Al Franken provides an excellent read (or listen). I, too, have posted a review of the book (6/19/2017)for TL.

      Apparently, McCain is at home, after his craniotomy for removal of a blood clot of about two inches.  He should be OK after recuperation, assuming the pathology report does not suggest metastasis from the melanonia he has battled.  This episode may explain McCain's befuddlement during the Comey hearing.

    Mayo Clinic does have a system that cuts down health care costs; the salaried v. direct pay to medical providers is among ways to cut overall costs.  Physician's fees run about 20 percent of total health care costs, so this presents some, but limited, cost saving capabilities.

     Physician reimbursement these days is not that of the past.  Primary care physicians are probably in the range of $150,000 per year--certainly no need for a tag day, but still reduced over years past. And, given the educational investment of time and money/loans it does not seem out of line.

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    Lee makes three (none / 0) (#10)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jul 17, 2017 at 07:56:16 PM EST
    With a guest

    Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas separately ... "My coolleague @JerryMoran and I will not support the MTP to this version of BCRA #HealthcareBill" Lee tweeted.
    It's being speculated (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jul 17, 2017 at 07:58:14 PM EST
    They made a joint announcement so neither of them will be the third vote.

    Seems a slim reed to me but whatever.

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    This makes 4 GOP no votes, (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by caseyOR on Mon Jul 17, 2017 at 08:15:02 PM EST
    right? So, this bill is dead, for now. Let's not forget, Republican health care bills have proven to be quite zombie-like.

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    Yes 4 (none / 0) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jul 17, 2017 at 08:16:12 PM EST
    So far.  Probably more to come

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    Also being speculated (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jul 17, 2017 at 08:15:25 PM EST
    Not that there is 4 there will be quite a few more

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    Senate Republicans Introduce New Health Care Bill | 16 comments (16 topical)

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