Advocacy group messages, concerns emerge as deficit talks continue

The drug industry and teaching hospitals are among the health industry sectors that are bracing for hits from the budget deal. Meanwhile, other health care providers are watching and waiting -- trying to figure out what might become of their interests as the negotiations go forward. And Democrats and liberal advocates, the staunchest supporters of the health law, fear President Barack Obama could give up too much in the ultimate agreement.

Politico Pro: Reformers Worry W.H. Will Give Too Much
Democrats who passed the most sweeping changes to the health care system in a generation, and the advocacy groups that backed them, say they are concerned that President Barack Obama could swing too far to the political right to clinch a deal that cuts spending on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security (Dobias, 7/8).

Politico Pro: Drug Industry Could Face Cuts In Budget Deal
The Obama administration has stepped up the push to include cuts that would hit the pharmaceutical industry as part of a budget deal this week, lobbying and advocacy sources say. But it may be harder to get these cuts, which could be in the neighborhood of $125 billion to $150 billion, into a final deal than other components under consideration that would hit providers, states and beneficiaries (Feder, 7/7).

The Boston Globe: Mass. Hospitals May Lose $322M
Massachusetts teaching hospitals would lose $322 million, or about two-thirds of the federal dollars they receive for the training of medical residents, under a bipartisan proposal to tamp down the rising costs of Medicare and reduce the federal deficit. The proposal, a slice of at least $1.6 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade being considered as negotiators try to forge a broad agreement to raise the nation's debt limit, could be a body-blow to the region's health care industry, a key part of the overall economy, analysts said (Jan, 7/8).

National Journal (video): How Might The Debt-Ceiling Deal Impact Doctors, Patients?
Health care providers are watching and worried about the outcome of a deal to reduce the deficit and raise the debt ceiling (McCarthy, 7/8).