Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios
House Budget Committee Republicans are considering a lengthy list of health policy options to help offset the cost of a reconciliation bill, per a document obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The menu is more expansive and detailed than earlier ones that have been circulated and shows that Republicans are also weighing proposals on telehealth and Medicare physician payment reform.
What's inside: The Budget Committee document breaks down options by committees of jurisdiction. Beyond previously discussed Medicaid changes like per capita caps, there are other detailed health care proposals:
- Some would cost money, such as extending Medicare pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities and covering cancer tests.
- Reforming the IRA's drug negotiation process to "discourage price setting," which could cost up to $20 billion over 10 years, was also included.
- A proposal to reform the Medicare physician payment system could cost up to $10 billion over a decade.
- Repealing the Affordable Care Act "family glitch" and the Biden administration's nursing home staffing rule were two options listed that could save money.
The document also contained a range of policies that haven't been widely discussed for reconciliation, under the House Education and Workforce Committee section. They include:
- Banning telehealth and other facility fees which was estimated to save $2.3 billion over 10 years.
- Prohibiting employer-sponsored health plans from paying for 340B drugs above the discounted price — though that proposal didn't have a savings estimate.
- There was also the option listed of reinstating association health plans as single large employer plans under ERISA, which would cost $579 million over a decade.
