Healthcare Daily Digest for Monday, 25 March: Healthcare Reform and Immigration Are Proving Unlikely Bedfellows for Republicans

Healthcare reform and immigration are proving to be an interesting motivator for Republicans.

Both topics have long been bullet points in the party’s platform: Mostly against both. However, then the 2012 election happened, and the party has sort of been in a period of rediscovering itself, and easing some of its former opinions.

“A bandwagon of endorsements last week by Congressional Republicans have aligned with vows by President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats to establish comprehensive immigration reform. A road to citizenship for people who entered the country illegally seems more assured by the day, but what is less clear is how the healthcare landscape of California, and the nation, also would change.”

That’s from this article, looking at the challenges facing the Affordable Care Act and undocumented workers.

The issue? Time. “Obama’s plan would have immigrants wait at least eight years before they qualify for health benefits. A Congressional plan spearheaded by Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and John McCain of Arizona pushes the wait to at least 10 years.”

Some, though, would like to see instant access for the undocumented — which is a bridge too far for many Republicans. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said “that immediate health reform benefits for undocumented immigrants would force him to withdraw support for immigration reform.”

Monday’s headlines:

Not a Headline; Just a Complaint: WHY WON’T IT STOP SNOWING WHEN IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE SPRING?!?

End of Healthcare Caps?: “California Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan, representative of the 9th district, has introduced new legislation that would impact student health insurance for UC and CSU students. AB 314 was introduced to the Assembly Health Committee, which passed March 19. The bill would end medical coverage caps for students under the UC health plan and is now going to the assembly floor.”

A Guy You Don’t Know Thinks Single-Payer Healthcare is the Only Viable Option: And he has a column called “As I See It” so he’s probably right.