How Republicans can hobble Obamacare even without repeal

[Common]

Republicans may have failed to overthrow Obamacare this week, but there are plenty of ways they can chip away at it.
The Trump administration has already begun using its regulatory authority to water down less prominent aspects of the 2010 healthcare law.
Earlier this week, newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price stalled the rollout of mandatory Medicare payment reform programs for heart attack treatment, bypass surgery and joint replacements finalized by the Obama administration in December.
The delays offer a glimpse at how President Donald Trump can use his administrative power to undercut aspects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the insurance exchanges and Medicaid expansion that Republicans had sought to overturn.
The Republicans' failure to repeal Obamacare, at least for now, means it remains federal law. Price's power resides in how to interpret that law, and which programs to emphasize and fund.
Hospitals and physician groups have been counting on support from Medicare - the federal insurance program for the elderly and disabled - to continue driving payment reform policies built into Obamacare that reward doctors and hospitals for providing high quality care at a lower cost.
The Obama Administration had committed to shifting half of all Medicare payments to these alternative payment models by 2018. Although he has voiced general support for innovative payment programs, Price has been a loud critic of mandatory federal programs that dictate how doctors should deliver healthcare.
Providers such as Dr. Richard Gilfillan, chief executive of Trinity Healthcare, a $15.9 billion Catholic health system, say they will press on with these alternative payment plans with or without the government's blessing. But they have been actively lobbying Trump officials for support, according to interviews with more than a dozen hospital executives, physicians and policy experts.
Without the backing of Medicare, the biggest payer in the U.S. healthcare system which Price now oversees, the nascent payment reform movement could lose momentum, sidelining a transformation many experts believe is vital to reining in runaway U.S. healthcare spending.
Price "can't change the legislation, but of course he's supposed to implement it. He could impact it," said John Rother, chief executive of the National Coalition on Health Care, a broad alliance of healthcare stakeholders that has been lobbying the new administration for support of value-based care.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-us...-idUSKBN16X0IV

[Cthulhu]

They didn't fail to repeal it.

They never intended to do it in the first place.

Fear profits a man nothing.

[Common]

Probably true

[del]

they intended to repeal it so the 1% could get their trillion dollar tax cut.

[Bethere]

rotstar2_e0.gif

they intended to repeal it so the 1% could get their trillion dollar tax cut.

[Subdermal]

they intended to repeal it so the 1% could get their trillion dollar tax cut.

Specifics, please. I would like to know exactly how this 'cut' is apportioned. With a supporting link as well, to avoid a bull$#@! non-answer from you.

[Tahuyaman]

Republicans may have failed to overthrow Obamacare this week, but there are plenty of ways they can chip away at it.
The Trump administration has already begun using its regulatory authority to water down less prominent aspects of the 2010 healthcare law.
Earlier this week, newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price stalled the rollout of mandatory Medicare payment reform programs for heart attack treatment, bypass surgery and joint replacements finalized by the Obama administration in December.
The delays offer a glimpse at how President Donald Trump can use his administrative power to undercut aspects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the insurance exchanges and Medicaid expansion that Republicans had sought to overturn.
The Republicans' failure to repeal Obamacare, at least for now, means it remains federal law. Price's power resides in how to interpret that law, and which programs to emphasize and fund.
Hospitals and physician groups have been counting on support from Medicare - the federal insurance program for the elderly and disabled - to continue driving payment reform policies built into Obamacare that reward doctors and hospitals for providing high quality care at a lower cost.
The Obama Administration had committed to shifting half of all Medicare payments to these alternative payment models by 2018. Although he has voiced general support for innovative payment programs, Price has been a loud critic of mandatory federal programs that dictate how doctors should deliver healthcare.
Providers such as Dr. Richard Gilfillan, chief executive of Trinity Healthcare, a $15.9 billion Catholic health system, say they will press on with these alternative payment plans with or without the government's blessing. But they have been actively lobbying Trump officials for support, according to interviews with more than a dozen hospital executives, physicians and policy experts.
Without the backing of Medicare, the biggest payer in the U.S. healthcare system which Price now oversees, the nascent payment reform movement could lose momentum, sidelining a transformation many experts believe is vital to reining in runaway U.S. healthcare spending.
Price "can't change the legislation, but of course he's supposed to implement it. He could impact it," said John Rother, chief executive of the National Coalition on Health Care, a broad alliance of healthcare stakeholders that has been lobbying the new administration for support of value-based care.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-us...-idUSKBN16X0IV

They can hobble it by doing nothing. As is, it's unsustainable.

[Tahuyaman]

Specifics, please. I would like to know exactly how this 'cut' is apportioned. With a supporting link as well, to avoid a bull$#@! non-answer from you.

You are asking way too much. That would require thought. It's easier to mimic a liberal talking point.

[Common]

They can hobble it by doing nothing. As is, it's unsustainable.

That seems to be what trump wants to do but congress is already talking about trying again.

Theyve made enough fools over themselves on obamacare. Theyve voted to repeal it 60 times when they KNEW they couldnt possibly have the votes in the house. Now the far right caucus tboned this.

They should leave it alone now

[Crepitus]

They didn't fail to repeal it.

They never intended to do it in the first place.

Fear profits a man nothing.

Bull. They had every intention of killing it this week. There is turmoil and recriminations flying around. Name calling and threats as well.