Welcome to The Morning CheckUp, ThinkProgress Health’s 7:00 AM round-up of the latest in health policy and politics. Here is what we’re reading, what are you?
GOP targets tanning tax: “Rep. Michael Grimm (N.Y.) and 23 other Republicans have co-sponsored legislation to repeal the 10 percent tax included in last year’s healthcare overhaul.” [The Hill]
The case for denying patients the right to sue states over Medicaid cuts: “The remedy that is needed is a policy remedy—one that requires balancing interests and responsibilities of varied groups of citizens and multiple levels of government—and should be formulated, enacted, and overseen by policymakers, not the courts.” [Jim Hufford]
The big flaw in Paul Ryan’s Medicare videos: “Ryan and his video pretend that the R’s Medicare plan gives consumers the power to negotiate directly with health care providers, who can thus use their voucher-driven bargaining clout to hold down prices. But, in fact, that’s not how his plan works at all. Under his plan, seniors get to negotiate with insurance companies, not service providers (doctors, hospitals, etc.)” [Jared Bernstein]
Atlanta’s 11th Circuit will consider whether ACA coerces the states to expand Medicaid: and while the plaintiffs in the 26-state challenge to the law have some real complaints, they will have trouble convincing the Court. [Brad Joondeph]
A reminder that not all states oppose the law: “10 states and more than 150 state legislators — many of whom are from the 26 states that brought the lawsuit — have filed ‘friend of the court’ briefs supporting the constitutionality of the Act and arguing that it is good for their states and constituents.” [Huffington Post]
Pennsylvania to limit abortion coverage in health law: “The Pennsylvania state Senate is advancing a bill to ban abortion coverage from policies obtained through health insurance exchanges.” The measure now moves to the House. [AP]
Anti-choice activists in Tennessee pull an Indiana: Tennessee Right to Life is urging Governor Bill Haslam administration to deny more than $1 million in federal funds to the state’s Planned Parenthood chapters in Nashville and Memphis. [The Tennessean]
Berwick explains that he opposes premium support: because rather than improving care, such proposals “are about shifting burdens to states and individuals who already are struggling to do the best they can.” [Kaiser Health News]
Reducing hospital readmissions: “With one in five of its elderly hospital patients re-admitted within a month of discharge, the federal Medicare program plans next year to reduce how much it will pay hospitals for certain preventable re-admissions.” [WSJ]
NJ wants to cut its Medicaid program: it is one of 15 states seeking to make cuts this year or next. [NPR]
How states are containing Medicaid costs: “Provider payment cuts appear to be states’ most commonly proposed method to contain Medicaid costs in fiscal 2012, but a dozen states are also turning to increased provider taxes or fees to bring more money into the program.” In 2011, 10 states used provider taxes to generate more resources. [Inside Health Policy]
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