| Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Thursday said it was time to go on "offense" on health care after a year of defending ObamaCare against repeal efforts. In a speech to a conference hosted by Families USA, a leading liberal health-care advocacy group, Warren laid out a range of ways to build on the Affordable Care Act, and attacked health insurance companies for how they treat consumers. "We need to do more than play defense," said Warren, 68, a possible 2020 Democratic presidential contender. "I believe it is time for us to go on offense." "I endorsed [Sen.] Bernie Sanders's [I-Vt.] 'Medicare for all'" bill, Warren said, but she did not focus on single-payer. She pointed to other options for expanding ObamaCare as well, such as creating a public health insurance option, or allowing people to buy into Medicaid, as Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has proposed. "I am glad to see us put a lot of different options on the table," she said. Read more here. Idaho seeks to roll back ObamaCare insurance protections Idaho officials will allow insurers in the state to sell health plans that don't comply with rules set up under ObamaCare -- a move that could test how committed the Trump administration is to enforcing the law. Under the new guidelines, insurers will be allowed to offer "state-based plans" to consumers that won't be required to meet some of the basic rules of ObamaCare plans, such as the essential health benefits that plans must cover. That means insurers who participate are free to deny people coverage or charge more based on a customer's medical history, a practice that's illegal under ObamaCare. Under the new guidelines, insurers will be able to deny coverage for people with pre-existing conditions for up to 12 months, unless the customer had continuous prior coverage. Insurers will still be required to cover maternity, newborn and mental health coverage through at least one plan. But other plans can exclude those benefits. State-based plans also won't be required to cover pediatric dental or vision care. Read more here. Controversial Trump drug policy appointee to step down A 24-year-old appointed to a top position in the White House's drug policy office will step down at the end of the month, The White House confirmed Wednesday night. Taylor Weyeneth, who was promoted last summer to serve as White House liaison to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, will depart following controversy over his limited work experience. Weyeneth's planned exit was first reported by The Washington Post. After he graduated from college in May 2016, Weyeneth worked as a paid member of the Trump campaign, then as a volunteer for the Trump transition. Read more here. McConnell tees up vote on 20-week abortion ban Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is turning the Senate toward a fight over abortion next week. McConnell moved to bring up a 20-week abortion ban, paving the way for a procedural vote expected on Monday. "Now Congress has an opportunity to take a step forward. ... I'm pleased to have filed cloture on this bill to protect unborn children who are capable of feeling pain. ... And I look forward to voting for it early next week," McConnell said. Republicans will need 60 votes to overcome a procedural hurdle before they can take up the bill. With a 51-seat majority, they are expected to fall short. The bill has 45 co-sponsors -- all Republicans. Read more here. Virginia state Senate panel kills Medicaid expansion bill Legislation to expand Medicaid in Virginia failed Thursday after a state Senate panel voted on party lines to defeat the measure. The state's Education and Health Committee voted down the bill 8-7. The bill can be brought up at another time, but if the committee doesn't take further action, the bill is dead. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Emmett Hanger (R), would have directed the state's secretary of Health and Human Resources to submit a Medicaid expansion waiver to the federal government. The bill called for the waiver to include work requirements for "able-bodied" adults and income verification, as well as cost-sharing provisions like premiums and copayments -- all policies favored by conservatives. Read more here. What we're reading Big Pharma greets hundreds of ex-federal workers at the 'revolving door' (Kaiser Health News) Scientists successfully clone monkeys; are humans up next? (Associated Press) Agencies target 'illegal, unapproved' products that claim to treat opioid addiction (The Washington Post) CDC finds more birth defects in areas affected by Zika (Washington Examiner) State by state Blue Cross of North Carolina comes out against Carolinas-UNC merger (Modern Healthcare) California's right-to-die law is working but challenges remain (The Mercury News) Panel to revisit controversy over state workers' health coverage (Associated Press) From The Hill's opinion page A weak link in the medical chain exposed: Drug compounding | 
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