Friday Five: Top 5 healthcare business news items from the MCOL Weekend edition

Every business day, MCOL posts feature stories making news on the business of health care. Here are five we think are particularly important for this week:

GOP’s 3-Bucket Strategy To Repeal And Replace Health Law Is Springing Leaks

Kaiser Health News reports: Republicans in Washington working to overhaul the Affordable Care Act say their strategy consists of “three buckets.” But it appears that all three may be leaking.

Price dodges on Medicaid rollback, immunization

Politico reports: Confronted by Medicaid recipients during a televised town hall event on CNN, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price offered few details Wednesday when asked to explain the reasoning behind the GOP's plan to roll back the health care program.

GOP Health Bill Narrowly Clears House Budget Committee

Morning Consult reports: The House Budget Committee on Thursday narrowly advanced the Republican health care bill to repeal and replace significant parts of the Affordable Care Act, with three Republicans voting against the measure.

By The Numbers: Trump’s Choice For FDA Chief Is Versatile, Entrenched In Pharma

Kaiser Health News reports: President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration has deep ties to the pharmaceutical industry as a consultant, investor and board member. Scott Gottlieb, 44, also has worn many hats in a career that included two previous stints at the FDA, practicing as a physician, and writer/editor roles at prestigious medical journals.

Deciphering CBO’s Estimates On The GOP Health Bill

Kaiser Health News reports: The Congressional Budget Office is out with its estimate of what effects the Republican health bill, “The American Health Care Act,” would have on the nation’s health care system and how much it would cost the federal government. The GOP plan is designed to partially repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act passed during the Obama administration.

These and more weekly news items on the business of healthcare are featured in the MCOL Weekend edition, along with the MCOL Tidbits, and more, for MCOL Premium level members.