November, 2010 -- Retaking of the House by Republicans in the mid-term elections brings uncertainty to the healthcare overhaul in the US but it’s not all bad news explains Datamonitor’s healthcare analyst Tijana Ignjatovic:
“The Republicans have vowed to repeal the healthcare reform law passed earlier in 2010, a key Obama policy, should they regain control in the US House of Representatives. However, although they have regained control in the House, with Democrats still in majority in the Senate, and with the White House supporting the reform, a repeal of the healthcare reform law is unlikely.
“Nevertheless, Republicans could stall if not block the implementation of key reform measures by blocking appropriations funding for the least popular elements of the reform. As a result many healthcare lobby groups have already been lobbying for select measures to be removed.
“While health insurers want to see a tax on the sector removed together with some other elements, they do want to keep the mandate to obtain insurance or potentially new measures to ensure healthy individuals are included in the insured pool.
“The pharma sector is also set to benefit from the mandate to purchase insurance, a measure Republicans are most opposed to and want to see removed. Thus, while the industry would want to see the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a body with powers to introduce ways to cut Medicare spending, removed, they have fought hard for the mandate to be included and would not want to see it repealed.
“The regaining of the House by Republicans, therefore, is a double edge sword for pharma, which over the past years has been a heavy supporter of the reform process and Democrats.”
Tijana Ignjatovic is available for comment.
To arrange an interview or for further details regarding this release please contact Joe Dixon in the Datamonitor press office on + 44 (0)161 238 4083, or email jdixon@datamonitor.com
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