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Axios
an hour ago
- Business
- Axios
Senate plunges into do-or-die moment on "big, beautiful bill"
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is about to make GOP holdouts decide if they're really willing to torpedo President Trump's signature legislative agenda ahead of his July 4 deadline. Why it matters: Each hard-fought deal at this point risks blowing up another. But leaders are getting ready to force holdouts' hands and get this thing done. The Senate wants to start voting on the " big, beautiful bill" at noon Saturday, said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). It had hoped to vote on Friday. "We'll find out tomorrow," Thune told reporters when asked if he has the votes to start the debate on the bill. Complicating the whip count: As of Friday evening, the Senate parliamentarian was still making rulings. "It's clear we're not going to have unanimity on some of this," Kennedy said. "That's why God made votes." Zoom in: The Senate also has yet to agree on a tentative deal with the House GOP's SALT crew, which was presented to them at lunch on Friday. There were some skeptics, notably Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), per two attendees. There are lingering concerns about Medicaid. Senators leaving lunch told reporters that they plan to delay lowering the provider taxes. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told us he did not see any substantial changes to Medicaid that would alter his analysis of the impact on his state. Asked about a vote tomorrow, he said, "It doesn't matter to me, if the baseline doesn't change, I'm a no." What to watch: There also is a growing possibility of floor fights — with senators seeking to strike unpopular parts of the bill via amendments.
Axios
an hour ago
- Politics
- Axios
Republican maverick Rep. Don Bacon retiring from Congress
Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska will announce his retirement on Monday, two sources familiar with the matter said. Why it matters: Bacon, who represents one of the most competitive districts in the country, was viewed as the GOP's best shot at keeping control of the key battleground seat. Democrats have been waiting for Bacon's exit for years. Bacon, who has served in the House since 2017, is only one of three House Republicans to represent a district won by former Vice President Harris in 2024. Punchbowl News was first to report Bacon's retirement. Between the lines: While Bacon's retirement won't send shock waves through the party, Republicans acknowledge that Democrats will have a field day with the open seat, according to a source familiar.
Axios
an hour ago
- Politics
- Axios
Former President Biden joins mourners as Melissa Hortman lies in state
Former President Biden joined a steady stream of mourners who visited the Minnesota State Capitol Friday to pay their respects to slain former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. The big picture: The influential Democratic legislator, who was shot and killed alongside her husband at her home in what officials have called a politically motivated assassination, was the first woman to lie in state in Minnesota. Prosecutors say the attacks, which also left another state senator and his wife injured, were part of a broader plot by alleged gunman Vance Boelter to harm Democratic lawmakers. Zoom in: The line outside the State Capitol stretched the length of the Capitol lawn and around the block Friday afternoon, with hundreds waiting to enter at any given time. Gov. Tim Walz and his wife Gwen, who grew close to the Hortmans over his last six years in office, were among the first to attend the public viewing hours. Many visitors, including legislators from both parties, appeared overcome with emotion as they approached the wooden caskets adorned with flowers in the center of the Rotunda. An urn containing the remains of the Hortmans' golden retriever Gilbert, who was gravely injured in the attack and later euthanized, sat between the couple. Inside the room: Some mourners dressed in tribute to the longtime Democratic House Leader, wearing pins or shirts featuring her "LFG" — "Let's f***cking go — political rallying cry.
Axios
an hour ago
- Politics
- Axios
Melissa and Mark Hortman to lie in state Friday at the Capitol
Melissa and Mark Hortman will lie in state with their golden retriever, Gilbert, at the Minnesota Capitol on Friday afternoon. The big picture: The slain former House speaker is the first woman — and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans — to ever receive the honor. The last person to lie in state in Minnesota was former Gov. Al Quie, who died in 2023. Catch up fast: The influential DFL legislator and her husband were shot and killed at their home on June 14 in what authorities have called a politically motivated assassination. Gilbert was gravely injured in the attack and later euthanized. The man authorities have charged in the slayings, Vance Boelter, is also accused of shooting another DFL senator and his wife in their nearby home and plotting to attack others. What to expect: Public viewing hours at the Capitol will be from 12-5pm. Members of the public can enter through the main doors atop the Capitol front steps and pay their respects in the Rotunda. A growing memorial outside the House chamber will also be accessible to those visiting the building. If you go: While there are several lots nearby, parking is limited. Officials encourage visitors to take public transportation if they can. Those in line by 5pm will be allowed into the building.
Axios
2 hours ago
- Business
- Axios
Traditional Medicare to add prior authorizations
Medicare is requiring more pre-treatment approvals in its fee-for-service program in a bid to root out unnecessary care, federal regulators announced Friday. The big picture: Traditional Medicare historically hasn't required prior authorizations to access most drugs or services, a major perk for enrollees. Prior authorization in privately-run Medicare Advantage plans has become a hot-button issue, with Congress and federal regulators working to rein in the practice. Federal inspectors found in 2022 that prior authorization in MA prevented some seniors from getting medically necessary care. Major health insurers this week made a voluntary pledge to streamline and improve the prior authorization process across all health insurance markets. State of play: Medicare's innovation center announced that it will solicit applications from companies to run the prior authorization program. Medicare is looking for companies with experience using AI and other tools to manage pre-approvals for other payers, and with clinicians who can conduct medical reviews to check coverage determinations. The program will start Jan. 1, 2026 and run through the end of 2031. It will only apply to providers and patients in New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and Washington. The change will apply to 17 items and services, including skin substitutes, deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's Disease, impotence treatment and arthroscopy for knee osteoarthritis. CMS selected the services based on previous reports and evidence of fraud, waste and abuse, as well as what's already subject to prior authorization in Medicare Advantage. Overuse of skin substitutes to help heal wounds has especially come under fire in recent years. Medicare spent more than $10 billion on the products in 2024 — more than double what was spent the year before, according to the New York Times. CMS noted that it may make other services subject to the prior authorization program in future years. Providers in the geographic areas can choose whether or not they want to submit an authorization request before delivering a service. But if they decide not to, they'll be subject to post-claim review and risk not getting paid for a service that was already delivered. "In general, this model will require the same information and clinical documentation that is already required to support Medicare FFS payment but earlier in the process, namely, prior to the service being furnished," the notice reads. Zoom in: The companies hired to manage the program will be paid based on how much they saved the government by stopping payments for unnecessary services. "Under the model, we will work to avoid any adverse impact on beneficiaries or providers/suppliers," CMS wrote in the notice.
