Health Care Reform

It's not too late to avoid the trap, or at least the worst of it. Yes, if the bill dies in the Senate, Mitch McConnell and some or all Republican senators will take the blame and some Republican activists may hold it against them.

So far, Democrats have had a tough time getting their message out as the Russia investigations are dominating news coverage and reporters are talking primarily to Republicans in a health debate that relies only on their votes.

One report says ER visits increased in Medicaid expansion states. Another says without it, over 14 million people could lose coverage.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is helping to lead the effort to probe drugmakers on their role in the opioid crisis. Counterparts in New York, Connecticut and Vermont are also part of the group.

CNN reports Democrats are considering steps to halt Senate business to protest Republicans working on their health bill in secret.

Health care stocks in the Russell 3000 index of the largest U.S. companies are outperforming the index as a whole since the election. A few stocks with ACA exposure are down since the election, but many more are up.