Republicans Float Health-Care Fixes as Shutdown Impasse Drags On

Republicans are discussing policies for a health package focused on lowering insurance premiums and changing regulation of pharmacy middlemen as the shutdown standoff with Democrats continues.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said Wednesday he’s working with the Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce committees on ideas to lower health premiums. He pointed to Republican efforts earlier this year to fund cost-sharing reduction payments.

Insurers are required to provide certain enrollees discounts on their deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, and until 2017, insurers were reimbursed by the government for the reductions. Republicans proposed restarting those payments during ...