New York Post

I’VE GOT A ‘BIG SURPRISE !’ Don’s health vow leaves US cure-ious

- By MARISA SCHULTZ, GABBY MORRONGIEL­LO and BOB FREDERICKS

President Trump on Wednesday mysterious­ly promised Americans “a big surprise” while talking about the Senate’s bill to overhaul health care.

“Health care is working along very well. We could have a big surprise with a great health-care package,” Trump said in impromptu remarks at the White House after greeting the World Series champion Chicago Cubs.

Asked by a reporter to elaborate, the president replied, “I said you’re gonna have a great, great surprise. It’s gonna be great!” and walked away.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump lavishly praised the Republican plan — a day after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell postponed a vote because not enough of his GOP colleagues backed it.

“We’re talking about a great, great form of health care. ObamaCare is dying, it’s essentiall­y dead. It’s been a headache for everybody, it’s been a nightmare for many, and we’re looking at a health care that will be a fantastic tribute to your country,” Trump said.

The president offered no details, but insisted the Republican plan would provide better care and be less expensive at the same time.

“This will be something really special if we can get it done. Hopefully, we’ll have it soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, McConnell (R-Ky.), was working on a revised bill palatable to conservati­ves and moderates alike. He is looking to submit it to the independen­t Congressio- nal Budget Office by Friday, hoping to get a better “score” than his initial effort did to sell the plan to holdouts.

A skeptical Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said the changes would sway votes when “pigs could fly.”

The new CBO cost estimate would reflect changes intended to entice opponents, possibly including expanded health savings accounts, the removal of language defunding Planned Parenthood and more extensive treatment for opioid addiction.

“What [conservati­ves] are looking for is not so much a single sort of policy change but certain policy outcomes — driving down premiums, reducing ObamaCare’s regulatory burdens, protecting consumers, etcetera,” a source told The Post.

McConnell delayed a vote on the bill until after the weeklong July 4 recess, giving GOP leaders more time to court moderate and conservati­ve holdouts.

Angry GOP senators took out their frustratio­n over the stalled bill on CBO Director Keith Hall on Tuesday — even though he’s a staunch conservati­ve they chose themselves in 2015.

On Wednesday, Republican senators were seen going to McConnell’s office to discuss their issues with the health-care bill.

Conservati­ve senators say the bill doesn’t go far enough to repeal ObamaCare, while moderates are worried about how cuts in the growth of Medicaid spending will affect their constituen­ts.

Trump has been in contact with nearly every holdout and will continue courting them over the weekend, a White House aide told The Post.

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