President Trump on Thursday called on Congress to pass a package of measures aimed at lowering drug prices, insurance premiums and increasing health cost transparency.
Why it matters: The "Great Healthcare Plan" is a response to Democrats' attacks around expired Affordable Care Act subsidies and an acknowledgement the GOP could get blamed for health care affordability heading into the midterm elections.
- But the framework isn't likely to get far given the polarization around health care in the Senate and House.
Driving the news: Trump, in a five-minute video, outlined a series of measures aimed at the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.
- He rejected reviving the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that Democrats have championed, instead calling for giving that money directly to patients, without fleshing out details.
- He also called on Congress to write into law his "most-favored nation" drug pricing plan that seeks to lower U.S. prices to match what's paid in other developed countries. That proposal has drawn opposition from Republicans who say it violates free-market principles.
- Other measures would increase price transparency and strengthen requirements for health providers to prominently display prices.
- The framework also aims to hold insurers "accountable" by posting information on their profits and "frequency with which they deny care."
A White House official said the party-line reconciliation process in Congress "would not be necessary" to pass the package, expressing hope the plan could get bipartisan support.
What we're watching: Whether the plan will lead to an active legislative effort by congressional Republicans, or whether it will just be used for political cover.
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