Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Trump admin. signals states can tie Medicaid to work
The Trump administration encouraged states Tuesday to get Medicaid recipients into the workforce, saying President Obama's refusal to set tougher conditions on able-bodied enrollees strained state budgets and failed to prioritize the truly needy. Published November 7, 2017
Obamacare interest rises, defying Donald Trump
States that run their own Obamacare markets say they are seeing a surge of interest by Americans checking plans, asking questions and signing up for coverage since the 2018 enrollment period opened last week, suggesting fears of a collapse as a result of Trump administration indifference may have been premature. Published November 6, 2017
Obamacare repeal push by Republicans bogs down tax plan hopes
Republicans won't get another crack at repealing Obamacare until next year, but fights over tweaking the law could drag down other parts of the GOP's agenda on Capitol Hill, including renewing funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and throwing a curve in the GOP's tax overhaul. Published November 5, 2017
House votes to extend children’s health program for 5 years
The House voted Friday to extend funding for an insurance program that covers 9 million children, as Republicans nudged aside Democrats who said lawmakers shouldn't have tapped Obamacare to pay for the bill. Published November 3, 2017
Nearly all HealthCare.gov counties offer no-premium plans: Study
Low-income Americans can actually find free insurance plans on Obamacare's exchanges, analysts said, scrambling a key attack line from Democrats who say the Trump administration's antipathy has ruined the health law. Published November 2, 2017
WH opioids panel approves final report
The U.S. should block-grant funding to the states to combat the prescription drug and heroin epidemic, expand the use of drugs to treat addiction and crack down on traffickers of deadly synthetics like fentanyl, the White House's opioids commission said Wednesday in its final report. Published November 1, 2017
Obama promotes health care law on first day of sign-ups
Barack Obama isn't president anymore, but that didn't stop him from stepping into the limelight on the first day of sign-ups under his namesake health law Wednesday. Published November 1, 2017
Democrats devise health care plans for 2018
Congressional Democrats are rolling out bills to patch holes in Obamacare and expand the federal footprint in health care, saying they want to have options ready to go if they win majorities in Congress next year. Published October 31, 2017
HHS: Obamacare ‘benchmark’ rates up 37 percent, choices dwindle
Obamacare customers will see higher premiums and fewer choices when they begin enrolling Wednesday for coverage next year, according to a series of studies that found the health care law's struggles are growing. Published October 30, 2017
Federal agents vow to hit the ground running after opioids declaration
Federal officials fanned across the country Friday to spotlight President Trump's decision to declare opioid addiction a public health emergency, vowing to disrupt narcotics networks and the "dark web" marketplace where anyone with a computer can buy deadly drugs from China and Mexico. Published October 27, 2017
Donald Trump declares public health emergency over opioids crisis
President Trump declared opioid-addiction a public health emergency Thursday, unlocking additional federal assistance for treatment and pledging a crackdown on drug traffickers, but leaving it to Congress to pump more money into solutions. Published October 26, 2017
Federal judge denies Dem AG’s request to force Obamacare payments
A federal judge in California refused a request by Democratic attorneys general Wednesday to resume critical Obamacare payments, forcing the issue squarely into Congress's lap as GOP leaders and President Trump decide whether to back a bipartisan bill that approves the money for two more years. Published October 25, 2017
Obamacare premiums to rise an average 34 percent: Analysis
Benchmark Obamacare plan premiums will rise an average of 34 percent next year, according to an independent analysis Wednesday that suggests poor enrollment and market instability are sending rates skyrocketing. Published October 25, 2017
Senate Democrats seek $45B in opioids funding
Senate Democrats introduced a bill Wednesday seeking $45 billion to combat the opioids epidemic, laying down their marker for new resources before President Trump outlines his strategy for coping with the crisis. Published October 25, 2017
House GOP threatens to subpoena DEA for opioid data
House lawmakers threatened to subpoena the Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday, saying their patience is "wearing thin" as they seek information about who supplied millions of pain pills to hard-hit West Virginia. Published October 25, 2017
CBO says Obamacare-payment deal would save nearly $4 billion
A bipartisan bill to stabilize Obamacare's markets would save taxpayers nearly $4 billion through 2027 and have an insignificant impact on the number of people who hold health insurance, the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation said Wednesday. Published October 25, 2017
FDA chief Scott Gottlieb says opioids fight must tackle stigma around treatment
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on Wednesday said no one should face stigma for using certain drugs to fight an addiction to opioids, as the White House gears up to declare the prescription drug and heroin crisis a national emergency. Published October 25, 2017
Orrin Hatch and Kevin Brady, key GOP chairmen, unveil rival plan to bolster health insurance markets
A pair of Republican leaders unveiled a plan Tuesday to resume critical Obamacare payments while appeasing the White House and the House GOP with provisions that chip away at the law, including its individual mandate to hold insurance or pay a tax. Published October 24, 2017
Chuck Schumer begs Trump to back Obamacare deal
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer begged President Trump Monday to endorse a bipartisan deal to stabilize Obamacare's markets, saying the bill "has the necessary 60 votes" to pass without hiccups after every Democrat and a dozen Senate Republicans rallied to it. Published October 23, 2017
DOJ says it’s settled ‘contraception mandate’ cases
The Trump administration announced Monday it has settled dozens of lawsuits that Catholic universities, charities and others filed over President Obama's "contraception mandate," as it defuses a years-long legal saga that had reached the Supreme Court. Published October 23, 2017
