WASHINGTON (Reuters)—President Donald Trump on Monday said he will nominate former pharmaceutical executive and industry lobbyist Alex Azar to serve as U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, saying Azar would push to lower the price of medicines. If confirmed, Azar also would take the lead in implementing Trump’s campaign promise to dismantle the Affordable Care…
U.S. Judge to Review Trump Healthcare Payments Cut
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters)—A U.S. judge is set to hear arguments on Monday about whether to block President Donald Trump’s decision to terminate controversial payments to health insurance companies under Obamacare. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco federal court has said he would quickly issue a ruling following the hearing. Several U.S. states sued…
U.S. States Plan Suit to Block Trump Obamacare Subsidies Cut
WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters)—On Friday, California, New York and others states vowed to sue President Donald Trump’s administration to stop him from scrapping a key component of Obamacare, subsidies to insurers that help millions of low-income people pay medical expenses, even as Trump invited Democratic leaders to negotiate a deal. One day after his administration announced…
CMS Announces 90% Cut to Obamacare’s Advertising Budget
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said on Thursday it plans to spend $10 million on advertising for the upcoming Obamacare open enrollment period that starts in November, a sharp cut from the $100 million spent last year. The agency also said it will cut funding for so-called navigators, who help…
Republicans’ Push to Roll Back Obamacare Faces Crucial test
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—President Donald Trump pleaded with U.S. Senate Republicans on Monday to “do the right thing” on healthcare and allow debate to begin on a measure to repeal and replace Obamacare. The Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on whether to begin debating a healthcare overhaul, although Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has…
Trump Administration Asks for Time to Weigh Obamacare Subsidies
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The Trump administration and U.S. House of Representatives Republicans on Monday asked a federal court for more time to decide how to proceed on the cost-sharing subsidies paid to health insurers that play a vital role in the Obamacare healthcare law. In a joint filing submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…
Trump Administration Issues Final Rule on Stricter Obamacare Enrollment
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The Trump administration on Thursday issued a final rule that will shorten the Obamacare enrollment period and give insurers more of what they say they need in the individual insurance market, likely making it harder for some consumers to purchase insurance, healthcare experts say. It could also raise out-of-pocket medical expenses, the experts say,…
Trump Nominee to Lead FDA Probed on Ties to Pharmacy Industry
(Reuters)—President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, was questioned about his ties to the pharmaceutical industry by Democrats on a key Senate committee on Wednesday ahead of a vote on whether to advance his nomination for a vote by the full Senate. Gottlieb, 44, is a former…
U.S. House Vote Looms; Trump Struggles to Win Obamacare Repeal
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—U.S. President Donald Trump made a final push on Thursday to win over skeptical members of his own Republican Party to begin dismantling Obamacare in the House of Representatives or risk failure on one of his top legislative priorities. The effort is seen by financial markets as a crucial test of Trump’s ability to…
Trump Appears to Be Losing Battle Ahead of Healthcare Vote
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders appeared on Wednesday to be losing the battle to get enough support in the House of Representatives to pass their Obamacare rollback bill, watched by wary investors in financial markets. The current House Republican rollback plan is scheduled for a floor vote on Thursday but faces…