Thune. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pouring cold water on a Democratic push to hold a stand-alone vote on a bipartisan health care package that was dropped from the December government funding deal.
Why it matters: The package would have addressed a set of long-stalled health policy priorities, including an overhaul of PBM business practices, a limited Medicare hospital pricing measure and drug patent changes. But it faces tough odds as a stand-alone bill.
What we're hearing: "I think there are objections to doing it as a freestanding bill at the moment," Thune told Axios on Monday evening.
- Thune also privately told Democrats that he is not going to bring the bill up as a stand-alone measure in its current form, sources said. That limits options to splitting it up or finding another legislative vehicle.
- Sources say four GOP senators objected when Republicans ran a hotline on the health package before the recess.
- It's not clear who all four are or why they objected. One appears to be Rick Scott, who blocked a Democratic unanimous consent request to pass the bill without elaborating on his reasons.
Between the lines: A stand-alone vote was always going to be an uphill climb considering that going through the process would consume floor time.
- It is also generally rare to have stand-alone Senate votes on health care bills, in part because of the way they could open up a wide-ranging debate on politically sensitive amendments.
Yes, but: The package got a sign-off in December from key chairs and leadership in both chambers and parties, before President Trump and Elon Musk blew up the funding bill that was the vehicle.
- Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo is still supportive and told Axios, "For sure, I'd be in favor of that," when asked Monday about a stand-alone vote.
The big picture: Without agreement on a path forward, bipartisan priorities like the PBM overhaul, which lawmakers have worked on for years, are in limbo.
- Rep. Buddy Carter has floated putting PBM changes in reconciliation instead, but Senate rules likely limit how much can be included.
The other side: Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden said he is going to "keep pushing" to get the package passed and that Democrats would work with the GOP on an agreement to limit floor time and the number of amendments.
- "We haven't been able to discern what kind of process they'd like, but in these kinds of things you have a time limit, you have an amendment limit, you get both sides in a process where you get a fair shake," Wyden said.
