‘HEALTH’Y SKEPTICISM Key GOPers not buying WH rosy outlook

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price on Sunday made some bold pledges about the GOP health-care plan — it would bring down premiums and individuals would not lose coverage — despite opposition from some Republican senators.

“The plan, in its entirety, will absolutely bring premiums down,” Price told CNN’s “State of the Union,” because of increased competition and choices.

Addressing growing concern the legislation doesn’t have enough heart, Price added: “We would not have individuals lose coverage that they want for themselves and their family. We want to make certain that health care is available for all Americans.”

Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway added to the feel-good narrative. She noted that the GOP bill doesn’t cut Medicaid — and, therefore, holds to President Trump’s campaign promise to preserve the program, which insures low-income families, disabled patients, pregnant women, the elderly and more.

“These are not cuts to Medicaid,” Conway told ABC’s “This Week.” “This slows the rate for the future and it allows governors more flexibility with Medicaid dollars because they’re closest to the people in need.”

But many Republicans are not buying the administration’s promises and are waiting until the Congressional Budget Office releases its analysis — as early as Monday — of how the ObamaCare repeal and replacement plan will impact coverage and premiums.

“There’s no way the Republican bill brings down premiums,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on ABC’s “This Week.”

Paul is one of five GOP members who have publicly opposed the bill as written — and more are on the fence, including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

“I respectfully disagree with [Conway’s] analysis,” Collins told ABC’s “This Week.”

Collins said she’ll wait for the CBO score to make a final judgment on the bill, but she has “very serious concerns” about the cost of insurance premiums for older Americans, defunding Planned Parenthood and Medicaid cuts for the most vulnerable patients.

“You can’t take over $800 billion out of the Medicaid program and not expect that it’s going to have an impact on a rural nursing home that relies on Medicaid for 70 percent of the costs of its patients,” Collins said.

Senate leadership still plans to hold a vote this week on the GOP health-care plan before breaking for the Fourth of July recess despite the conflicting concerns of both conservative and moderate members. The bill requires 50 out of 52 Republican votes to pass.

It will be challenging to tinker with the bill enough to win holdout votes while not losing others, Price admitted on “Fox News Sunday.”

“It’s a thin needle to thread,” Price said.

One Republican who has not supported the bill, Sen. Ron Johnson, said there’s “no way” a vote should take place with so little time for the public and lawmakers to review it.

“I would like to delay the thing,” Johnson (R-Wis.) told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “There’s no way we should be voting on this next week. No way.”

The secretly drafted bill was made public Thursday and one week is not “enough time” to review it and improve it, according to Johnson.

“Let’s have the integrity to show the American people what it is,” he said.

Joining Paul and Johnson in already announcing opposition to the bill as written are Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas), Dean Heller (Nev.) and Mike Lee (Utah).