::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

  “The next major priority for me, and for all of us, should be to lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, and to protect patients with preexisting conditions.”– President Donald J. Trump   OFFERING WORKERS BETTER COVERAGE: President Donald J. Trump is expanding Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), opening new coverage options for American workers. The Trump Administration has finalized a rule to expand HRAs, giving businesses a better way to offer health insurance coverage. Under the rule, employers will be able to provide their workers with tax-preferred funds to pay for the cost of health insurance coverage that workers purchase in the individual market. This rule will particularly benefit small businesses that face significant costs in offering a traditional group health plan and businesses that do not currently offer coverage.   The rule corrects a major distortion by, in effect, providing the same tax benefits to these new ...

By Mona Austin UPDATE 3/28, 7:31 a.m.: The White House admitted there is no replacement for Obamacare. The future of healthcare in America is on shaky ground again as efforts to replace Obama-era healthcare are freshly renewed. As of Monday, 11.4 million people have signed up for Obamacare. The future of healthcare in America is on shaky ground again as efforts to replace Obama-era healthcare ("Obamacare") are freshly renewed. As of Monday, 11.4 million people have signed up for Obamacare. The statute was enacted in 2010, giving consumers access to  customizable healthcare plans.  But, a new development has reignited Pres. Trump's plans to dismantle it. The Trump Administration is asking the DOJ to completely strike down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) after a Conservative leaning  federal appeals court in the 5th circuit agreed with arguments from a Republican coalition of states that filed a law suit in Texas to shred that law on Constitu...

Sorry. Try again. That is the verdict on Paul Ryan's new and improved healthcare proposal. The vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been postponed. All Democrats oppose the proposed adjustments to the healthcare plan or the so called American Healthcare Act and Republicans were not able to come to a consensus after day long arguments. The vote was scheduled to coincide with the 7th anniversary of the ACA Thursday to give Trump bragging rights in passing the first major piece of legislation in his poitical career, bringing an end to the bill essentially on the day it began. Trump issued an ultimatum saying he wants a vote by Friday or they will be "stuck with Obamacare." While many lawmakers may be eager to make a final decison ahead of the upcming Congressional Spring Break, Trump now faces embarassment as several House Republicans take their time to carefully dissect the proposal before approving it, which further underscores the growi...

buzzz worthy. . .             By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:             Section 1.  It is the policy of my Administration to seek the prompt repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended (the "Act").  In the meantime, pending such repeal, it is imperative for the executive branch to ensure that the law is being efficiently implemented, take all actions consistent with law to minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens of the Act, and prepare to afford the States more flexibility and control to create a more free and open healthcare market.             Sec. 2.  To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Secretary of Health and Hu...

buzzz worthy. . . By Mona Austin President Obama has escaped to Hawaii for his annual holiday vacay, but he is staying active on the isle of Oahu and keeping an eye on Obamacare progress.     On Sunday the family attended a college basketball game on the campus of the University of Hawaii. The  University of Akron Zips played the Oregon State Beavers , coached by first lady   Michelle Obama ’s brother,   Craig Robinson . The game was held on the campus of the University of Hawaii. After the g He started the day with a  sunrise workout at the gym on the Marine Corp Base at Kaneohe Bay, which included basketball.  In the afternoon he slowed things down a bit playing 18 holes of golf at Mid-PAC Country Club    at Mid-Pacific Country Club in the neighborhood of Lanikai, an exclusive residential area of Kailua where the President’s vacation rental is located.   Marvin Nicholson, Bobby Titcomb and Eric Whitaker joined him.   Be...