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The total for the latest open enrollment period marks a 30% increase from a year ago, based on past enrollment figures published by the health policy research organization KFF. Officials said the figures include 5 million new signups and more than 16 million people with 2023 ACA plan coverage. West Virginia, which has expanded Medicaid, saw the largest percentage increase in enrollment at 80%. “Marketplace coverage is very important to those in those states whose incomes are under 138% of poverty,” says Sara Collins, vice president for health care coverage and access and tracking health system performance for The Commonwealth Fund. “It is a reflection of the lack of Medicaid expansion in those states.”An analysis by KFF notes ACA health plan enrollment has increased each year during the Biden administration.

Persons: It’s, Xavier Becerra, “, ”, Sara Collins, KFF, Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Cynthia Cox, Cox, signups, ” Cox, Collins, ” Collin Organizations: Biden, “, Social Security, Affordable, ” Department of Health, Human Services, District of Columbia, Commonwealth Fund, American Locations: Texas, enrollees, Florida, West Virginia, signups

On the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that enshrined a woman’s right to an abortion, Biden and Harris announced new rules and guidance about contraceptives and abortion and a national tour by Harris to call attention to the issue. Biden and Harris, as well as Democrats down the ticket are positioning themselves as the protectors of abortion rights and casting the Dobbs decision that left abortion access to the states as harmful to women. And Democrats have seen a series of victories in races and credit their position on abortion rights with getting voters to the polls. But, ballot measures to ensure abortion rights were passed in California, Michigan, Vermont while voters in Kansas, Kentucky and Montana voted down proposals that would have rolled back protections. Democrats hope the issue will propel Biden and Harris to victory in 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Roe, Wade, Biden, Harris, Xavier Becerra, Dobbs, ” Biden, “, Donald Trump Organizations: Democratic, Affordable, of Health, Human Services, Labor, Republican Locations: Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Kansas, California, California , Michigan , Vermont, Kansas , Kentucky, Montana, Wisconsin

☆ CNN Poll: Trump’s lead over Haley widens to double digits in New Hampshire
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jennifer Agiesta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —The race for the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary appears to be former President Donald Trump’s to lose, according to a new CNN poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire following Trump’s 30-point win in Iowa’s caucuses last week. Trump holds 50% support among likely Republican primary voters in the Granite State, while his closest competitor, former South Carolina Gov. Likely Republican and Democratic primary voters were identified through survey questions about their intention to vote. Results among 1,210 likely Republican primary voters have an error margin of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. Results among 838 likely Democratic primary voters have an error margin of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Nikki Haley, Haley, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, “, Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson, Phillips, Biden hasn’t Organizations: CNN, New Hampshire Republican, University of New, Republican, South Carolina Gov, Trump, Florida Gov, GOP, Democratic, Biden, Democratic National, Minnesota, CNN New, University of New Hampshire Survey Locations: University of New Hampshire, Granite State, New Hampshire, Trump, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, CNN New Hampshire, Hampshire

☆ Turning Down Food Aid for Children Is Shockingly Callous - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Charles M. Blow | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Some of those states have some of the highest poverty rates in the country, including Mississippi, with the highest rate, and Louisiana, where I grew up, with the second highest. When Louisiana rejected the lunch program, a Democrat was still the governor; on Jan. 8, a Republican took over. According to KFF, a nonprofit organization focused on health policy, seven of those states — Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming — are among those that have not fully extended Medicaid to the poor under the Affordable Care Act. Imagine withholding funding for food that would keep children healthy, while denying people medical care when they get sick. The cruelty of it is almost incomprehensible, but I’m convinced that this is all part of the punitive posture of so many of today’s Republicans — which in this case is meant to punish poverty, to intensify hardships: their version of an economic “scared straight” program.

Persons: —, KFF, I’m Organizations: Democrat, Republican, Affordable, Republicans — Locations: Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia , Mississippi, South Carolina , Texas, Wyoming

☆ Struggling insurance upstart Oscar is making a long shot bet on a Trump-era program to fuel growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The New York insurance company has struggled to find its footing for years. At the top of the list is this little-known Trump-era policy, which offered employers a new way to give workers health benefits. Oscar has struggled with deep lossesBertolini is the former CEO of the insurance company Aetna. The company raised its health plans' prices and renegotiated contracts with healthcare providers and vendors — including its pharmacy-benefit manager — to lower expenses. In the future, Oscar plans to design specific health plans that cater to those types of customers.

Persons: —, Joshua Kushner, Mario Schlosser, Oscar, it's, Mark Bertolini, It's, Bertolini, Trump, Ari Gottlieb, Elijah Nouvelage, haven't Organizations: Service, Business, New, Morgan Healthcare, Aetna, Reuters, HRAs Locations: New York, ICHRAs

☆ Getting hot new weight-loss drugs like Wegovy will still be a struggle in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementIf you were hoping that powerhouse weight-loss drugs like Wegovy would be easier to get in 2024, you may be disappointed. Don't expect Medicare coverage any time soonMedicare could play a major role in expanding coverage of weight-loss drugs . Americans' hunger for weight-loss drugs, and the shockwaves it's likely to send through the culture and economy, are only just beginning. He oversees the state employee health plan, which saw costs skyrocket as thousands of workers suddenly started taking weight-loss drugs. People who are already getting weight-loss drugs will be able to keep taking them.

Persons: —, Renee Rayburg, Mercer, Eli Lilly's, Jose Luis Pelaez, there's, Wegovy, Bill Coyle, ZS, Eli Lilly, David Risinger, Lilly, Risinger, Morgan Stanley, Mounjaro, They're, That's, Patrik Jonsson, Lilly USA, Coyle, Dale Folwell, Folwell Organizations: Service, Pharmaceutical, Group, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Mayo Clinic, University of Texas, Hennepin Healthcare, Medicare, Capital Alpha Partners, Vanderbilt University, Nordisk's Wegovy, Novo Nordisk, pharma, Nordisk's, FDA, Pharma, UBS BioPharma Conference, Walmart, Jefferies, Nordisk Locations: Mounjaro, Government, Minnesota, Minneapolis, Hennepin, ZS, U.S, Carolina, North Carolina

☆ Biden tells donors he’s ‘not sure I’d be running’ in 2024 if Trump wasn’t in the race
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Kevin Liptak | David Wright | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“If Trump wasn’t running, I’m not sure I’d be running,” he said, saying Democrats “cannot let him win.”The comment, made during a fundraiser at a private home outside Boston, offered perhaps the starkest rationale to date for Biden’s reelection decision-making. The remark suggested Biden may not have sought a second term if Trump had not decided to run again. Biden took on Trump directly in the first of those fundraisers, warning that his predecessor is “telling us what he’s going to do. Two other events in the area will bring in millions more for Biden’s campaign war chest. With its significant early investment, Biden’s reelection effort has targeted key media markets in familiar battleground states – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada.

Persons: Joe Biden, he’d, Donald Trump wasn’t, I’m, ”, “, Biden, Trump, “ Trump’s, ” Biden, Singer, James Taylor, You’ve, Joe ”, We’re, He’ll, Stephen Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes, Rob Reiner that’s, Michael Smith, James Costos, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Biden’s, they’ve Organizations: Boston CNN, Democratic, White, Trump, Democracy, ”, Hamas, NFL, Biden, DNC, PAC Locations: Boston, New Hampshire, Israel, Los Angeles, Spain, Pennsylvania, Michigan , Wisconsin , Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Detroit, Vegas, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, South Carolina

☆ Opinion: The deeply unsettling reason that explains Trump’s attacks on Obamacare
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dean Obeidallah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

First, he believes going after the signature achievement of President Obama plays well with his base. But there’s another, deeply unsettling possible motive: A racial component may be at play in Trump’s attacks on the legacy of the first Black president. Trump sought to undermine President Obama starting with his 2011 racist and false “birther campaign” seeking to cast Obama as an illegitimate president. And of course, it’s hard to forget the 2011 White House Correspondents Association Dinner, where Obama comically embarrassed Trump. After all, he had four years in the White House to do that.

Persons: Dean Obeidallah, Donald Trump, Dean Obeidallah CNN Trump, ” Trump, Obamacare, Trump, Trump’s, Obama, —, MAGA, supremacists, America’s, ”, Michael Luttig, Donald J Organizations: CNN, Affordable, GOP, ACA, Republicans, Obamacare, NBC’s, Ivy League, Columbia University, Harvard Law, White House, Trump Locations: Obamacare, America, Iowa

☆ DeSantis Says He Would Pass a Bill to ‘Supersede’ Obamacare
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Maggie Astor | More About Maggie Astor | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ron DeSantis of Florida said on Sunday that, if elected president, he would pursue legislation that would “supersede” the Affordable Care Act, echoing former President Donald J. Trump’s comments, which Democrats seized upon last week. “We’re going to look at the big institutions that are causing prices to be high — big pharma, big insurance and big government — but it’s going to need to be where you have a reform package that’s going to be put in place,” he said. “Obamacare promised lower premiums. After President Biden’s campaign denounced the statement, Mr. Trump wrote: “I don’t want to terminate Obamacare, I want to REPLACE IT with MUCH BETTER HEALTHCARE. Obamacare Sucks!!

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Donald J, Mr, DeSantis, ”, Trump’s, “ We’re, “ Obamacare, Trump, Biden’s Organizations: Affordable, Press, pharma Locations: Florida

☆ Trump calls on supporters to 'guard the vote' in Democratic-run US cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Speaking at a campaign event in Iowa, Trump said it was important to scrutinize the vote in the battleground states likely to determine the general election. "So the most important part of what's coming up is to guard the vote. Trump did not specify who he was asking to "go into" the battleground-state cities. In a second Iowa event on Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Trump reiterated plans to reform the Affordable Care Act, known informally as Obamacare, calling the healthcare insurance program "a disaster." Reporting by Nathan Layne in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Gram Slattery in Washington Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Donald Trump, Carlos Barria, Trump, Joe Biden, Timothy Naftali, Naftali, Biden, Nathan Layne, Gram Slattery, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Democratic, Trump, Republican National Committee, Republicans, Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, Capitol, Affordable, Thomson Locations: Ankeny , Iowa, U.S, RAPIDS , Iowa, Philadelphia, Iowa, Michigan , Pennsylvania, Georgia, what's, Detroit, Atlanta, Ankeny, Des Moines, Nazi Germany, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids , Iowa, Washington

☆ DeSantis says he will replace Obamacare with a ‘better plan,’ cautions House GOP on Biden impeachment inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Kit Maher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

At a stop in Sioux City, Iowa, on Saturday, DeSantis dismissed Trump’s renewed focus on repealing Obamacare. The resurrection of the health care battle has given Democrats fresh political ammo, and the Biden campaign quickly seized on Trump’s threats. The campaign also released an ad focused on health care and prescription drug costs, attempting to draw a sharp contrast with Trump. … We’re gonna have a comprehensive plan to lower costs, and yes, Obamacare hasn’t done it, so we’ll transcend Obamacare,” DeSantis told Fox Carolina. On Saturday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he believes he has the votes to launch a formal impeachment inquiry into Biden.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, “, Obamacare, ”, ” DeSantis, Donald Trump, DeSantis, Trump’s, “ Didn’t, Nancy Pelosi, Roy Cooper, Trump, We’re, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, they’ve, “ We’re, CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Alayna Treene, Kate Sullivan Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, Affordable, Republican, GOP, Trump, Republicans, Biden, North Carolina Democratic Gov, Press, Fox Locations: Sioux City , Iowa, Florida, Fox Carolina, Iowa

☆ Opinion: Taylor Swift has it. Elon Musk and George Santos don’t
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Exit George SantosVideo Ad Feedback SE Cupp: Trump didn't pave the way for George Santos. In the week that Americans said goodbye to Rosalynn Carter, Henry Kissinger and Sandra Day O’Connor, it was jarring that Santos occupied our minds. But as SE Cupp argued, in a more rational world, Santos would have resigned from Congress long ago. • Join us on Twitter and Facebook“Many Republicans just don’t care,” wrote Zelizer. Ron Edmonds/APAs a 12-year-old girl in 1981, Traci Lovitt was riveted by the appointment of Sandra Day O’Connor as the first woman on the Supreme Court.

Persons: William James, “, James, Webster, — Taylor Swift, Elon Musk, Taylor, Jeff Yang, aplomb, Swift, Ariana Grande, Tay, bestie, ”, ” Yang, Holly Thomas, ‘, Emma Chamberlain, we’re, we’ll, We’ll, Exit George Santos, George Santos, Rosalynn Carter, Henry Kissinger, Sandra Day O’Connor, Santos, New Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez, Cupp, Mercedes, ” Santos, Menendez “, Menendez, Donald Trump, Trump, Bill Clinton, ” Clay Jones Liz Cheney’s, Liz Cheney, ” Cheney, Julian Zelizer, Cheney, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, ” “, craven, — Cheney, Wade, Patrick T, Brown, ’ Trump, ” Brown, Sen, John McCain, ” Nick Anderson, Agency Nikki Haley’s, Nikki Haley, Koch, Haley, Geoff Duncan, ” Duncan, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Barack Obama, ” “ Haley, Nicole Hemmer, Bill Carter, Hannity, Newsom, Henry Kissinger’s, Henry “ Kissinger, Fareed Zakaria, Kissinger, Stalin, reread Spinoza, ” Kissinger, Zakaria, ” Jeremi Suri, ” “ Kissinger, Peter Bergen, Christopher Hitchens, Henry Kissinger David Andelman, Joe Biden, Phil Hands, Frida Ghitis, it’s, Netanyahu, Ghitis, Hani Almadhoun, Almadhoun, ” Elon, Jill Filipovic, X, Dean Obeidallah, Keith Magee, Lisa Benson, GoComics.com, Dominic Erdozain, Ronald Reagan, ’, Walt Handelsman, Will Leitch, William Faulkner, Robert Frost, John Steinbeck, Leitch, … I’d, ” Don’t, Dana Summers, Agency Amy Klein, Stuart E, Carter, Carmen Cusido, Sandra Day, Sandra Day O'Connor, Ron Edmonds, Traci Lovitt, O’Connor, Lovitt, Antonin Scalia, — Organizations: CNN, Oxford, Merriam, Exit, Trump, White House, Republican, Democrat, Independent, Mar, Twitter, Facebook, Republicans, Affordable, “, Tribune, Agency, New York Times, Biden, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Musk’s, Islamic State, America “, National Commission, Illustrated, Sports, AP, Stanford Law, Potomac Locations: Merriam, New York, New Jersey, Roe, Georgia, Siena, optimists, European, Nazi Germany, Vietnam, Cambodia, Gaza, Israel, America, America “ America, United States, Arizona

☆ Stephanie Armour — Senior Special Writer, Healthcare Policy at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Stephanie Armour | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Stephanie ArmourStephanie Armour is a senior special writer for health policy at The Wall Street Journal, where she covers such topics as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Medicare, congressional health legislation, the opioid epidemic, and state health initiatives. A reporter for more than two decades, she has produced award-winning investigative projects on subjects including food safety, body brokering, and human trafficking. Stephanie also has written for Bloomberg and Bloomberg Businessweek, USA Today, The Des Moines Register, and The Daily Tribune in Ames, Iowa. Her journalism awards include a First Place Headliner Award from the Press Club of Atlantic City, a First Place Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and a First Place in Consumer Journalism Award from the National Press Club. She lives in Washington D.C. and has a degree in English from the University of Minnesota.

Persons: Stephanie Armour Stephanie Armour, Stephanie Organizations: Wall Street, Affordable, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Businessweek, USA, Des Moines Register, The Daily Tribune, Press, Sigma Delta Chi, Society of Professional Journalists, Consumer, National Press, Washington D.C, University of Minnesota Locations: Ames , Iowa, Atlantic City, Washington

☆ Trump heads to Iowa focused on Biden as DeSantis looks to jolt lagging campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Ron DeSantis head into their respective Iowa campaign events on Saturday eyeing different objectives that reflect their drastically different standings in the GOP primary. “Everybody will feel the love tomorrow, but the main focus will be Biden,” the senior Trump campaign aide told CNN on Friday. Trump’s campaign on Friday launched a six-figure broadcast TV ad buy in Iowa, according to the senior Trump campaign aide, which includes an ad focused on Biden. The Biden campaign seized on Trump’s comments, deploying high-profile surrogates and running a new ad on Thursday focused on health care and prescription drug costs. Trump is expected to participate in a prime-time town hall moderated by Fox News host Sean Hannity in Davenport, Iowa, the night before, according to the senior Trump campaign aide.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Trump, Joe Biden, DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Biden, ”, Grassley, Republican Iowa Sen, Chuck Grassley, Kim Reynolds, Bob Vander Plaats, Reynolds, Haley, Charles Koch, Sean Hannity Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, GOP, Republican, Trump, South Carolina Gov, Biden, Republican Iowa, Iowa Gov, Republicans, UN, Fox News Locations: Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Ankeny, Sioux City, Florida, New Hampshire, Alabama, Davenport , Iowa, York

☆ Maker of Wegovy, Ozempic showers money on U.S. obesity doctors
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Novo spent at least $25.8 million over the past decade on U.S. medical professionals to promote its two obesity drugs, Wegovy and Saxenda, the analysis found. Jastreboff has also worked on clinical trials of obesity drugs for Eli Lilly, which markets a Wegovy competitor. Some doctors said Novo’s payments exemplify how the flood of industry money can dominate decision-making about care and coverage. Government pharmacy officer Solaru said her agency concluded that the new obesity drugs could be cost-effective by preventing other weight-related diseases and boosting workplace productivity. In January, the personnel office told its health plans they must cover at least one GLP-1 obesity drug for 8 million workers, retirees and family members.

Persons: Lee Kaplan, Kaplan, ”, gastroenterologist, He’s, Novo, Donna Ryan, Ryan, “, ” Kaplan, ” Novo, Robert Lustig, “ I’m, Lustig, They’re, Ania, ” Jastreboff, Jastreboff, Eli Lilly, Lilly’s Zepbound, Lilly, ” Lilly, Novo’s, Ayana, Sanders, Arthur Kellermann, ” Kellermann, mouthpieces, ’ ”, “ I'm, Jamy Ard, Ard, Dele, ” Solaru, ” Ryan, Scott Kahan, Kahan, Solaru, Christine Gallagher, Wegovy, Rebekah Carl, Carl, Jen Wexler, gaunt, Wexler Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Dartmouth, Nutrition Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Reuters, Cambridge, Obesity Society, U.S ., Management, Reuters . Pharmaceutical, ”, U.S, United, National Health Service, University of California, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Doctors, Wegovy’s, BMI, Yale University’s Center, Weight Management, Wall Street, American Medical Association, Rutgers University’s School of Public Health, Affordable, . Pharmaceutical, Companies, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Wake Forest University, Wake Forest Baptist Health Weight Management, Obesity, Pennington Biomedical Research, U.S . National Institutes of Health, Personnel Management, Coalition, STOP, George Washington University, Novo Locations: CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Boston, U.S, Novo, Danish, United States, Louisiana, San Francisco, Wegovy, Pennington, Baton Rouge , Louisiana, Government, New Columbia , Pennsylvania, Florida

President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign will air a new TV ad nationally and in key battleground states focused on his administration’s plan to lower health care costs and prescription drug prices, according to a campaign official, hitting Trump on health care after the former president raised the prospect of repealing Obamacare. The 60-second spot seeks to draw “a stark contrast” between Biden’s health care plans and Trump’s. More than 40 million Americans are covered under the Affordable Care Act, which passed in 2010 and which the Biden administration has built upon. “My predecessor wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. The Biden campaign has focused on health care as a theme all week, showcasing issues like pre-existing conditions and communities of color who benefit from the current law.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, ”, Judy, “, Trump’s, Trump, ” Biden, Donald Trump’s, Harris, Julie Chavez Rodriguez Organizations: Trump, Affordable, Biden, Wednesday, Obamacare, The, Survivor Locations: Nevada, Pueblo, Colo, Phoenix , Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas , Raleigh, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Paradise, Donald Trump’s America

“This is a phenomenal moment for North Carolina and for North Carolinians,” state Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley said in an interview. “All that adds up to just the peace of mind, knowing that when they need health care, it’s not going to drive them into debt.”Democratic Gov. They warmed to the idea in 2022, when the federal government offered a $1.8 billion bonus over two years if North Carolina signed on. It stipulates that North Carolina hospitals cover the state’s 10% share of expenses through increased assessments that began in November, DHHS said. Much of western North Carolina exists in the Medicaid coverage gap, “and its citizens are absolutely left behind,” McBane said.

Persons: Carrie McBane, McBane, Kody Kinsley, it’s, Roy Cooper, weren’t, Cooper, DHHS, ” McBane, Kinsley, “, ” Organizations: North Carolina, Medicaid, of Columbia, Republican, National Center for Health Statistics, of Health, Human Services, ” Democratic Gov, General Assembly Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, North Carolina, Sylva, Raleigh, South, Midwest, ”, Carolina

A challenge to that ban is expected to come to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, though Planned Parenthood has been offering abortions since September based on a circuit court judge's interpretation of the law. As Wisconsin's attorney general, Schimel supported laws in Indiana and Ohio that limited abortion access. He also defended Republican-drawn legislative maps that are being challenged before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Before being elected attorney general, Schimel spent 25 years as a Waukesha County prosecutor. Bradley, 73, was first elected to the Supreme Court in 1995 and is the longest-serving justice on the court.

Persons: —, Brad Schimel, Ann Walsh Bradley, Bradley, Schimel, ”, Janet Protasiewicz, Donald Trump, Josh Kaul, Scott Walker, Protasiewicz's, ” Schimel, “ Organizations: Republican, Wisconsin Supreme, University of Wisconsin, Republicans Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Waukesha, Waukesha County, Indiana, Ohio

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 29 (Reuters) - Cigna (CI.N) and Humana (HUM.N), two of the biggest U.S. health insurers, are in talks for what could be the largest merger announced in 2023, according to a source familiar with the matter. A Humana and Cigna combination would give the merged company the scale to rival UnitedHealth Group (UNH.N) and CVS Health (CVS.N). In July 2016, the Justice Department filed lawsuits against two health insurance mergers on the same day, saying they would lead to less competition and higher prices for Americans. Health insurers have been facing higher medical costs as people return for procedures they had put off during the pandemic. Humana in February said that it would sell its commercial business but keep its Medicare Advantage products.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Cigna, Cigna's, Aetna, Bill Baer, Andre Barlow of Doyle, Barlow, Mazard, Bernstein, Lance Wilkes, Craig Garthwaite, Manas Mishra, Diane Bartz, Deena Beasley, Caroline Humer, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Humana Inc, REUTERS, Street Journal, UnitedHealth, CVS Health, Humana’s, Medicare, Affordable, Justice Department, Humana, U.S ., Reuters, Northwestern University, Thomson Locations: Queens , New York City, U.S, Cigna, Bengaluru, Washington, Los Angeles

☆ Opinion: Nikki Haley is ready for her closeup
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Opinion Nicole Hemmer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Nikki Haley is instructive. But nowhere does it talk in depth about policy or what the Koch brothers’ organization represents within the Republican coalition. What makes Haley interesting in this race is not, in fact, her position in the polls but her position in the party. Haley was, after all, Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, an interesting position for someone who so sharply diverges from Trump’s ostensibly non-interventionist foreign policy. Or maybe it’s Haley, the standard-bearer for a more inclusive Republican Party, defined by her identities as a woman and Indian-American.

Persons: Nicole Hemmer, Carolyn T, Robert M, “, Who, Clinton, Hillary Clinton’s, Donald Trump’s, ”, Trump, Voters don’t, —, Nikki Haley, Haley, George W . Bush, Paul Ryan, David, Charles Koch, Koch, it’s Haley, Patrick Hruby, Jon Stewart, Colbert Organizations: Rogers Center, Vanderbilt University, “ Partisans, Conservative, CNN, Trump, —, Voters, Republican, South Carolina Gov, Prosperity, The New York Times, GOP, United Nations, Social Security, Republican Party, United Auto Workers, Columbia Journalism, New York Times, Washington Post, Times, Post, Political Journalism Locations: Trump, Afghanistan, Iran, Ukraine, Charleston, Detroit

The back-and-forth points to what could be a key issue in a general election rematch between Trump and Biden if both win their parties' nominations as widely expected. Political Cartoons View All 1267 ImagesHealth care has generally been a better issue for Democrats than Republicans, who have largely abandoned efforts to repeal the law in recent years. But Trump weighed in on the issue Saturday morning on his Truth Social site. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll found 37% of Americans trust Democrats to do a better job than Republicans on handling healthcare, versus about 1 in 5 — 18% — who trust Republicans over Democrats on this issue. Still, a June 2023 AP-NORC poll showed a minority of U.S. adults — 44% — approving of how Biden was handling health care, with 53% disapproving.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, “ Donald Trump’s, ”, Biden, Harris, Ammar Moussa, Trump, it’s, I’m, “, Sen, John McCain, Elizabeth Warren, Mike Braun, Moussa, –, Zeke Miller, Linley Sanders Organizations: Affordable, Democratic, GOP, Trump, Republicans, Republican, Republican Party, ABC, Democrats, Wall, ” Biden's Department of Health, Human Services, Associated Press Locations: U.S, Sens, Washington

☆ Biden Campaign Aims to Weaponize Trump’s Threat to Obamacare
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Reid J. Epstein | More About Reid J. Epstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Very few events bring aides on President Biden’s re-election campaign more joy than when former President Donald J. Trump threatens to repeal popular Democratic policies. So when Mr. Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner, wrote on social media over the holiday weekend that he was “seriously looking at alternatives” to the 13-year-old Affordable Care Act, and that his fellow Republicans should “never give up” seeking its repeal, Mr. Biden’s campaign was happy to cede its programming decisions to Mr. Trump. Still, Mr. Biden’s aides intend to once again push to make Mr. Trump and his proposals the news. That strategy has become a key cog for the campaign, as Mr. Biden struggles with low approval ratings and increasingly focuses on foreign policy rather than his re-election bid. The campaign will air TV ads this week in Las Vegas and on national cable that contrast legislation passed by Mr. Biden that lowered prices on some prescription drugs with Mr. Trump’s proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act, said Michael Tyler, the campaign’s communications director.

Persons: Biden’s, Donald J, Trump, “, Biden, Michael Tyler Organizations: Republican, Street, Mr Locations: Las Vegas

Yet according to a raft of polls and surveys, most Americans hold a glum view of the economy. Polls consistently show that most Americans disapprove of Biden's handling of the economy. I hear that from my family.”That's particularly true for some of the goods and services that Americans pay for most frequently: Bread, beef and other groceries, apartment rents and utilities. “Partly because the country is more polarized.”Even so, many Americans, like Charles, are still feeling the pain of inflation. Even if it does, the higher pay may come with a time lag.

Persons: they’re, Joe Biden, Lisa Cook, Cook, ”, Wendy Edelberg, Katherine Charles, Charles, “, ” Charles, Maximus, Eileen Cassidy Rivera, ” Rivera, Karen Dynan, George W, Bush, Obama, Edelberg, ” Edelberg, haven't, Brad Hershbein, Anthony Murphy, Murphy, Aparna Jayashankar, ” Hershbein Organizations: WASHINGTON, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Federal Reserve's Board of Governors, Duke University, “, Brookings Institution, Medicare, Affordable, Teamsters, Biden, House, Republicans, University of Michigan's, Harvard, Upjohn Institute, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Locations: U.S, Tampa , Florida, autoworkers, ”

☆ Opinion | Why We Can Expect More Chaos in the House
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Molly Reynolds | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

This puts more and more stress around the handful of bills that are seen as so important that they must pass, and the annual spending bills fall into this category. The desire to use spending bills to advance partisan goals can ultimately make them more difficult to pass. Among Mike Johnson’s first pledges after his election as speaker was an ambitious schedule for floor consideration of individual spending bills in the House. conference: A vote on one was canceled in part because some Republican members from districts won by President Biden announced they would oppose it over abortion-related language. Consider the partial shutdowns in late 1995 and early 1996, both resulting from broad disagreement between President Bill Clinton and the new House Republican majority on big-picture fiscal questions about taxes and the deficit.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Mike Johnson’s, Biden, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama’s, Donald Trump’s, Newt Gingrich, shutdowns —, ” Organizations: Republican, Affordable

That includes a brief stint as mayor of San Diego, one of the nation’s largest cities. During her tenure as Senate leader, Democrats have grown their caucus to 32 out of 40 seats — their largest majority since 1883. She got her chance when her twin sister joined the Navy and was stationed in San Diego. In San Diego, Atkins was director of a women’s health clinic that performed abortions. She was also politically active, working to help elect Christine Kehoe to the San Diego City Council.

Persons: Toni Atkins, Tony Gwynn, Jimmy Kimmel’s, Atkins, Jerry Brown, “, Gavin Newsom, Gov, Eleni Kounalakis, Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, Rob Bonta, ”, Shannon Grove, Newsom, Dolly Parton, ” Atkins, Christine Kehoe, Kehoe, “ Toni, ” Kehoe, Anthony Rendon, Rendon, “ Toni Atkins Organizations: San Diego Padres, Gov, Associated Press, Democratic, Senate, Republicans, Republican, Navy, San Diego City Council, Affordable Care Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Oregon, Black, San Diego, Virginia, Appalachia, Los Angeles

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