OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Republicans tie ObamaCare to IRS scandal

by Elise Viebeck and Sam Baker - 05/13/13 10:30 PM ET

“The corruption at the IRS is yet another example of why I am committed to dismantling Obamacare,” Black, a sophomore, said in an interview with Newsmax. “No government agency, particularly one with such rampant political corruption as the IRS, has any business accessing or monitoring Americans’ personal health information.”

GOP predicts rate shock: Materials provided by insurance companies show that insurance premiums could skyrocket once President Obama’s healthcare law is fully in place, according to a report released Monday by Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The report said existing customers in the individual market can expect rate hikes of 73 percent, while new customers’ premiums will cost 96 percent more. Small businesses could see rates climb by 50 percent, according to data from one insurer.

{mosads}Read the full report here.

Dems push back: Committee Democrats criticized the GOP report, saying it did not account for policies designed to make insurance more affordable.

“The major methodological error is that the report ignores the provisions of the Affordable Care Act that will reduce costs in the individual market, such as tax credits for individuals and small businesses. The result is a one-sided report full of misleading conclusions that conflict with the findings of independent experts,” Energy and Commerce Democrats said in a statement.

Rep. Stockman: Dems ‘worship abortion’: Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) lashed out at Democrats on Monday, just after abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder.

“Democrats do not want abortion to be safe or rare,” Stockman said in a statement. “Democrats oppose even the most basic of health and safety standards for abortion mills. Democrats don’t care how many women are maimed, infected with diseases or die on the routinely-filthy abortion mills. Democrats worship abortion with same fervor the Canaanites worshipped Molech.”

The Hill has Stockman’s full remarks.

We also have the story on Gosnell’s conviction.

Plan B appeal: The federal government on Monday sought to block a judge’s order requiring the agency to remove all age restrictions from the birth control pill known as Plan B. A lower court judge struck down age limits on the sale of Plan B, saying they were driven by politics rather than science. He gave the government until Monday to seek a delay from a higher court.

The Justice Department filed a brief Monday requesting the delay, saying the lower court “plainly overstepped its authority.”

Read the Healthwatch story.

Tuesday’s agenda

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on overhauling Medicare’s flawed physician payment formula.

World Relief will hold an event to commemorate 10 years of stopping the spread of HIV around the world. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS coordinator, will speak.

State by state

800 nursing home supporters rally against Medicaid cuts

Most doctors still reject Medicaid as program expansion nears

Haley leaves health law to feds as residents remain uninsured

Lobbying registrations

Downey McGrath Group / Association for Quality Imaging

Select Medical Holdings Corporation / self-registration

Reading list

What happens if you don’t pay ObamaCare’s tax penalty?

Two new viruses could both spark global outbreaks

Eating insects could help fight obesity, UN says

HHS issues rules cutting Medicaid DSH [free registration required]