Overnight Healthcare: Abortion fight holds up anti-trafficking bill

The fate of a bipartisan bill to fight human trafficking was in jeopardy Tuesday as Democrats raised concerns about abortion-related language in the bill. The bill, introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), would crack down on perpetrators of human trafficking, create new services for victims and expand resources for law enforcement. Top Democrats, including Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), pulled support on Tuesday as word spread about a provision of the bill that would prohibit federal funds to be used for abortion through the Hyde Amendment. Democrats had been unaware that the bill included the abortion language as it was going through committee, a Democratic aide said. But Cornyn dismissed the notion that Democrats didn't know what they were voting on. "The idea that there's been some sort of ambush is just preposterous, it's just not credible," he said from the Senate floor. "They object to language that has been the law of the land for 39 years." Cornyn urged Democrats to drop their concerns and "rise above this disagreement, this posturing, this 'gotcha'" – which he said would ultimately hurt victims. He also defended his legislation by arguing that the rules were no different than those used to cover most federal grant programs. The Hyde Amendment was first used in 1976 and is routinely attached to annual appropriations bills. Those bills have been supported by Democrats in the past, Cornyn argued. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a former prosecutor of child molestation cases, also took to the Senate floor to urge an end to "political 'gotcha' games" – though his criticism was directed at the GOP. "If you want to score political points, do it on something [that] doesn't involve vulnerable children," Leahy said. Read more here. VAST MAJORITY QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDIES: A total of 7.7 million people would receive subsidies this year in the roughly three-dozen states using HealthCare.gov, the administration said Tuesday. That figure – which amounts to 87 percent – is particularly important at a time when the Supreme Court weighs a case that could eliminate the subsidies. A total of 34 states using HealthCare.gov could lose ObamaCare subsidies if the court rules against the administration later this spring in King v. Burwell, a GOP-backed lawsuit. A vast amount of federal spending is at stake in the decision – about $2 billion per month, according to the new figures. On average, a person who qualifies for subsidies would have to pay less than one-quarter of their premium cost. The average subsidy is $263 per month. Without that extra financial help, healthcare experts and administration officials have warned that people will be forced to drop their coverage because they cannot afford it. Read more here. NEW OBAMACARE BUYERS YOUNGER, MORE DIVERSE: First-time ObamaCare customers were slightly more likely to be younger and more likely to be black or Latino, the report also found. The figures – which apply to 4.6 million new customers – signal some success for national healthcare groups and government officials who cranked up their outreach to younger, more diverse groups this year. Still, the overall percent of black or Latino Americans signing up for ObamaCare remained largely the same as 2014. Black Americans made up 14 percent of total enrollment in 2015, compared to 17 percent last year. Latinos comprised 11 percent both years. Dr. Meena Seshamani, director of HHS's Office of Health Reform, urged caution on the figures because nearly one-third of people did not report their race. "We're satisfied where we are by the overall mix of enrollees," she told reporters Tuesday. RX DRUG SPENDING RISES 13 PERCENT: The cost of prescription drugs last year saw its the largest increase since 2003, according to a new report.   Much of the spike in drug prices was driven by increases in a few specialty areas. Drugs to treat hepatitis C stand out particularly, because new drugs that can provide better treatment are very expensive. Spending on those drugs increased by 743 percent. Read more here. Wednesday's schedule Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell will address an insurer's trade group, America's Health Insurance Plans. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) will deliver keynote remarks at the Research!America annual member meeting. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and two other Democratic senators will hold an online chat urging Congress to extend funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). State by state Christie's 2016 New Jersey budget to benefit from ObamaCare Bill would prevent Missourians from being fined under Affordable Care Act Montana House officially kills governor's Medicaid expansion Pennsylvania to officially launch Medicaid expansion next month What we're reading Scott Walker's one-of-a-kind ObamaCare conundrum Senate bill would effectively end the federal war on medical marijuana Three states would be hardest hit if Supreme Court upends health law subsidies What you might have missed from The Hill Warren accuses GOP of chasing profits for medical companies WHO charges independent panel to examine Ebola response Chemical reform push launched in Senate Please send tips and comments to Sarah Ferris, sferris@thehill.com, and Peter Sullivan, psullivan@thehill.com. Follow on Twitter: @thehill, @sarahnferris, @PeterSullivan4