What Caught Our Eye: A New GOP Health Plan, Looming Uncertainty for Insurers, Sharing Genetic Cancer Risks with Children, and More

What Caught Our Eye (WCOE), April 21, 2017
What Caught Our Eye is our week-in-review blog series, where we recap the cancer policy articles, studies, and stories that caught our attention.

In the Spotlight

Trumpcare is back. And worse than ever.

Via Vox.com — “House Republicans are floating a new amendment to their health care bill — one that would likely cause even more Americans to lose coverage than the last version.

“Leaders of the staunchly conservative Freedom Caucus and the more moderate Tuesday Group have reportedly hashed out a proposal that would let some states ditch key Obamacare policies, such as the requirement to charge sick people the same for coverage as healthy people. States would also have the choice to opt out of the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefit requirement.”

House GOP members are floating a new health plan. Here’s what’s in it. https://t.co/9R3uWsbp8F

— Vox (@voxdotcom) April 20, 2017

Affordable Care Act

“Bare Market: What Happens if Places Have No Obamacare Insurers?”

What would happen if all the Obamacare insurers left a given market? We may soon find out. https://t.co/QnS7wNfJu3 pic.twitter.com/5eWZfaImDE

— The Upshot (@UpshotNYT) April 19, 2017

Via New York Times Well Blog — “If all the insurers start leaving [the market], consumers there will find their options dwindling, and then their subsidies will become worthless. Most would end up uninsured. The problem could affect a substantial fraction of the approximately 11 million people currently enrolled in Obamacare coverage..”

“Health Insurers Asked Trump Administration for Reassurance on Obamacare. They Didn’t Get It.”

Health insurers asked the Trump administration for reassurance on Obamacare. They didn’t get it. https://t.co/owtXt9Css3

— Post Economy (@PostEconomy) April 18, 2017

Via Washington Post Wonkblog — “Health insurance executives seeking certainty on the future of federal funds that help lower-income Americans with their out-of-pocket health-care costs got no commitment that they would be paid next year in an hour-long meeting with Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), according to two insurance industry officials with knowledge of the meeting.”

“Tom Price’s big test: Keep Obamacare afloat”

Tom Price's big test: Keep Obamacare afloat https://t.co/FgoPhW6ODT

— POLITICO Pulse (@POLITICOPulse) April 19, 2017

Via Politico — “President Donald Trump doubles down on his repeal rhetoric, insurers are still awaiting key Obamacare funding and new disclosures highlight two lawmakers who are raking in the health care cash. But first: Tennessee is ground zero for the urgent challenge facing HHS Secretary Tom Price.”

“White House Pressures GOP Leaders on Obamacare”

White House thinks vote will happen Wednesday. Hill Republicans are not in same hurry to rush a health care vote. https://t.co/y5rhh6bGNv

— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) April 20, 2017

Via Politico — “The White House is pressuring House GOP leaders for another showdown vote on repealing Obamacare next week so it can notch a legislative win before President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. But while the outlines of a possible deal are starting to come together, it’s far from clear that House Republican leaders have found the sweet spot to pass their embattled alternative health plan.”

Cancer Policy

“FDA Approves Drug for Hodgkin Lymphoma”

The FDA has approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) for some adult and pediatric patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma https://t.co/vNawsluRLr pic.twitter.com/uvGp6WRWG7

— National Cancer Institute (@theNCI) April 18, 2017

From the National Cancer Institute (NCI) — “On March 14, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) for the treatment of some patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). The drug is approved for the treatment of both adult and pediatric patients with refractory cHL, or patients whose disease has relapsed after three or more lines of therapy.”

Coping with Cancer

“When to Tell Daughters About a Genetic Breast Cancer Risk”

When to Tell Daughters About a Genetic Breast Cancer Risk https://t.co/aPkU4KyQA3

— NYTimes Well (@nytimeswell) April 20, 2017

Via New York Times Well Blog — “As genetic testing has given women and men a trove of information about their health and risk for disease, it has also created a new challenge for parents and medical experts: when to share information with children who may share a genetic risk.”

“Relationships and Metastatic Breast Cancer”

https://twitter.com/cancernews247/status/855124941204635648

Via KXLY — “Dealing with metastatic breast cancer can put additional stress on any relationship. But having supportive relationships can make a big difference in your day-to-day life and emotional health.”

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