Presented by Prevent Cancer Foundation — Senate Republicans say they don’t want to get sucked into another messy fight over ObamaCare and are trying to wave away former President Trump from going after the law again. {beacon} Health Care Health Care   The Big Story Senate Republicans fear new ObamaCare war Senate Republicans say they don’t want to get sucked into another messy fight over ObamaCare and are trying to wave away former President Trump from going after the law again. © Greg Nash, The HillInstead, the GOP lawmakers want Trump to focus on extending the tax cuts he signed into law at the end of 2017, which are due to expire at the end of next year.   The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has become engrained in the fabric of the nation’s health care system, as more than 21 million Americans selected health plans through the law’s insurance exchanges in 2024. After Trump and congressional Republicans failed to repeal the law in 2017 by a single vote, its popularity soared. Democrats won back control of the House in the 2018 midterms in part by campaigning on protecting preexisting conditions.   When Trump was elected in November 2016, just 43 percent of adults supported ObamaCare, according to a tracking poll conducted by the nonpartisan health research group KFF. The most recent poll published in May showed 62 percent of respondents view the law favorably.    Trump declared at the Sept. 10 presidential debate that “ObamaCare was lousy health care” and pledged “we’re going to replace it” if he wins in November. But he added he would “only change it if we come up with something better and less expensive,” claiming that he has “concepts of a plan.”  But Republican senators see the health care debate as filled with political land mines, and they’re eager to avoid a reprise of the 2017 failure. GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine), who voted with Democrats that year, are still in the Senate.  Still, health advocates have said another attempt at replacing the law could come down to how large a majority the GOP has. If there’s divided government, any Republican-led ACA action would be an uphill push.  Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a Trump ally who was serving in the House the last time Republicans debated major health care reform, said there are concepts like high-risk pools and giving states more freedom over Medicaid that could be explored, but only after tax reform.   “I think tax relief. It’s got to be tax policy,” Cramer said. “I just wouldn’t tackle [health care] as an overhaul or a repeal of ObamaCare. We do have to improve and make permanent the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”   Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.  Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:  Senate Democrats take final crack at abortion bill on floor ahead of NovemberSenate Republicans blocked Democrats from advancing a resolution aimed at ensuring access to emergency health care, including for abortions, as Democrats keep their messaging centered on reproductive rights ahead of November. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) attempted to pass the resolution, which was introduced last week, via unanimous consent. She argued it was necessary after ProPublica reported a delay in emergency …  Full Story  Sanders, Novo Nordisk CEO clash over Ozempic, Wegovy drug prices The CEO of Novo Nordisk wouldn’t commit to lowering the prices of Ozempic and Wegovy during a Senate hearing Tuesday, despite repeatedly being pressed by Senate Health Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).  Novo Nordisk chief Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen told senators Tuesday that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the industry middlemen that negotiate the terms and conditions for access to prescription drugs, are the reason …  Full Story  Brett Favre says he has Parkinson’s Brett Favre revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in a congressional hearing on welfare accountability Tuesday. Favre testified at a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee in the wake of allegations he was part of a scheme to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) state funds for personal projects. The Hall of Fame quarterback told lawmakers that the scandal has hurt him in various …  Full Story   In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Haley rakes Ohio Senate candidate for criticizing suburban women on abortion stance Former GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley is going after Republican Ohio Senate nominee Bernie Moreno for comments he made concerning many suburban women’s views on abortion.  Full Story   Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care: Concern grows as bird flu outbreak continues to rise among California dairy herds (Los Angeles Times)  Across North Carolina, medical debt exacts a heavy toll (KFF)  A South Texas region finally gets a children’s hospital, but many families still can’t find care (Texas Tribune)  What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets: That message from your doctor? May have been drafted by AI (The New York Times)  Weight-loss drugs are supposed to be forever. Until they run out. (Washington Post)  Baltimore claims Biogen ‘bribed’ PBMs to favor its pricey MS drug over generics (Stat)  What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: Supreme Court allows Missouri to execute Marcellus Williams The Supreme Court refused to block Missouri from executing Marcellus Williams on Tuesday amid questions about the jury selection process and key evidence … Read more Chutkan rebuffs Trump effort to upend Jan. 6 case schedule U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Tuesday rebuffed a request from former President Trump asking her to upend previously set deadlines and bar a … Read more What People Think Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: ProPublica’s abortion disinformation goes nationalThe hidden costs of our dietary guidelines    Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Health Care newsletter Subscribe