Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Health insurers say rate hikes are likely under Trump coverage plans
Major health insurers in the Obamacare market say they may end up having to hike their prices unless they can get more certainty from the Trump administration about what the future will look like. Published May 10, 2017
Trump FDA pick Scott Gottlieb confirmed by Senate in 57-42 vote
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Dr. Scott Gottlieb, President Trump's pick to oversee the Food and Drug Administration, as every voting Republican and a handful of supportive Democrats overpowered critics who said he wouldn't serve as an adequate check on drug companies in the midst of a national opioid crisis. Published May 9, 2017
Senate Democrats to GOP: Yank repeal effort, and we’ll talk health care
Senate Democrats on Tuesday renewed their offer to work with Republicans on health care so long as GOP leaders take repeal of Obamacare off the table -- something that's a primary goal for President Trump, who recently toasted the passage of a House replacement plan. Published May 9, 2017
Senate Republicans revise House’s ‘repeal and replace’ health care bill
Senate Republicans picked up the health care debate Monday by promising a new start, saying they'll write their own legislation that looks substantially different than the embattled plan that cleared the House last week. Published May 8, 2017
Planned Parenthood defunding a GOP hurdle
Republican leaders scrapped a fight over Planned Parenthood in last week's spending bill, fearing it would sink the legislation and insisting it made more sense as part of Obamacare's repeal. Published May 7, 2017
House passes GOP’s Obamacare replacement bill
Republicans took the first major step toward repealing Obamacare on Thursday as the House approved a bill that would replace the 2010 health care overhaul with a more market-friendly system that cancels intrusive government mandates, spurring millions of people to forgo health insurance. Published May 4, 2017
Kevin McCarthy: House health care vote set for Thursday
House Republicans say they will vote on a long-awaited vote to repeal and replace Obamacare on Thursday, after a pivotal 24 hours in which the White House and GOP leaders agreed to changes that won over two prominent holdouts and paved the way for action before lawmakers take a weeklong vacation. Published May 3, 2017
Key GOP holdouts flip to ‘yes’ on health care
A prominent Republican reversed course Wednesday and said he will back the GOP plan to replace Obamacare, breathing new life into the repeal effort as President Trump and House leaders try to win over holdouts with extra money for consumers who might struggle to afford coverage under their plan. Published May 3, 2017
House GOP says their bill bests Obamacare on pre-existing conditions
House GOP leaders on Tuesday said their health care bill would replace Obamacare's wobbly market with one that drives down costs for people with pre-existing medical conditions, as they scramble to pull in votes from hesitant centrists who say the measure erodes critical protections for Americans who are already sick. Published May 2, 2017
Republicans optimistic of Obamacare repeal
Republicans are increasingly optimistic they will schedule — and win — a vote in the House this week to repeal Obamacare. Published May 1, 2017
American Heart Association, top patient groups slam GOP health bill
Ten patient-advocacy groups on Monday panned the latest version of the House GOP health care bill, saying it would still lead to coverage losses and that "high-risk pools" are not an adequate alternative to Obamacare's rules on insurers. Published May 1, 2017
Reince Priebus, W.H. chief of staff, bullish on health care: I think it will happen this week
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Monday he thinks the House will pass its Obamacare replacement bill very soon and that it is not overdue, despite critics' claims. Published May 1, 2017
Trumpcare may see insurers exit if president ends cost-sharing
A major Obamacare insurer says it will quit the program immediately if the White House cancels cost-sharing payments, underscoring the dilemma facing President Trump, who is trying to use the money as leverage to force Democrats to the bargaining table. Published April 30, 2017
Steny Hoyer: Quick health care vote will imperil spending talks
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said Thursday he will encourage Democrats to oppose a funding bill designed to buy time for 2017 spending talks if Republicans try to hold a vote on their health care bill this week. Published April 27, 2017
House Freedom Caucus endorses health plan, boosting GOP leaders and Donald Trump
The hard-line conservatives who helped sink Republicans' first Obamacare repeal attempt reversed course Wednesday and officially endorsed the latest plan designed to slash costs for healthy Americans, giving congressional leaders a critical boost as they seek a do-over. Published April 26, 2017
Obamacare favored by majority of Americans: Poll
New polling says the GOP's latest ideas on health care are unpopular and that a majority of Americans will hold President Trump and his congressional allies responsible for Obamacare's problems moving forward, underscoring the tall task before Republicans sticking to a repeal-and-replace strategy. Published April 26, 2017
Donald Trump’s border wall concession clears way for spending bill
Congressional negotiators closed in on a spending deal Tuesday after President Trump backed off his demand for border wall funding, saying he doesn't need an immediate infusion of cash for the project, clearing the way for Capitol Hill to hash out a bill that avoids an end-of-week government shutdown. Published April 25, 2017
Steny Hoyer: ‘We’re about to drown in the swamp’ after Trump’s first 100 days
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer on Tuesday pilloried Mr. Trump's first 100 days in office on Tuesday, saying his health care bill and budget didn't match his campaign promises and that he undermined foreign confidence in America though his contested travel ban. Published April 25, 2017
Majorities reject new GOP ideas for replacing Obamacare: Poll
Majorities of the American public disagree with ideas the House GOP is floating to bridge a gap within its own conference and overhaul health care, according to a poll released Tuesday. Published April 25, 2017
Defeat of Ebola means temporary legal status for thousands of West Africans will expire
In a sign the U.S. considers Ebola to be vanquished, immigration officials are reminding thousands of West Africans to pack their bags and return home or risk deportation when their temporary legal status expires in one month. Published April 23, 2017
