House GOP plans vote on canceling health bill provision on medical education

House Republicans plan another vote on a bill to roll back a spending provision of the health law. Plus some question whether Senate candidate Tommy Thompson is out of step with other Republicans on health care reform, and what OMB's role was in the latest ACO regs.

The Hill: House GOP Take Another Swing At Federal Health Care Funding Next Week
House Republicans next week plan to approve another bill targeting the automatic federal funding of health care programs that was established in last year's health care law. Republicans plan to take up H.R. 1216, which would terminate more than $200 million in funding over the next decade that is currently slated to fund training for graduate-level medical students. That funding was put in place by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act last year, through language that amended the Public Health Service Act (Kasperowicz, 5/19).

The Washington Post: Tommy Thompson's Health Care Problem
Tommy Thompson is a popular former governor with near-universal name recognition in his home state — two traits that might lead you to believe that he will be the odds-on Republican nominee to replace retiring Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl (D). But Thompson has one big problem — health care. President Obama's health care law has become a touchstone for conservatives who see it as the most egregious example of the "government can solve our problems" mentality of the current Administration. And, Thompson has long been a rare Republican advocate for the intent — if not the particulars — of the law (Weiner, 5/19).

Politico Pro: Sources: OMB Raised ACO Savings Goals
The Office of Management and Budget's fingerprints are on at least two of the provisions of the proposed accountable care organization regulations most disliked by potential ACOs, according to multiple sources close to the administration. OMB insisted on requiring all ACOs to face losses if their delivery reforms do not produce expected savings within the first three years, a provision CMS strongly resisted (Feder, 5/20).