Despite Congressional Maneuvering, Courts Could Make The Next Decision About Health Law’s Insurer Payments
The government may be on the hook for up to $20 billion for past and future payments to insurers, who say the administration promised to help cover losses under the health law and then didn't deliver. Republicans had blocked some of the payments, and the administration says insurers aren’t entitled to funding because it was never appropriated by Congress. The case is now being considered by a federal appeals court. Meanwhile, Idaho officials met with Trump administration officials to talk about a way forward after the state's proposal to let insurers skirt regulations was shot down.
The Wall Street Journal:
Billions Of Dollars On The Line As Insurers Await Obamacare Ruling
Health insurers and the Trump administration face a court decision shortly that will determine whether the government must pay insurers billions of dollars despite Republican efforts to block payments they view as an industry bailout. Insurers have filed roughly two-dozen lawsuits claiming the federal government reneged on promises it made to pay them under the Affordable Care Act. A decision could come at any time on pivotal litigation before a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. (Armour, 3/15)
The Hill:
Idaho, Trump Officials Meet On State's Controversial ObamaCare Plan
Idaho officials met with Trump administration officials and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) on Wednesday to try to find a path forward on the state’s controversial plan to skirt ObamaCare rules. Idaho insurance commissioner Dean Cameron told The Hill that he met with administration officials in Washington on Wednesday to discuss possible changes to the state’s plan. (Sullivan, 3/15)
The Associated Press:
Little 'Optimistic' After DC Meeting Over Health Plan
Lt. Gov. Brad Little on Thursday said he has a better understanding of the federal government's position after being told the state's move to let companies offer health insurance plans that don't meet Affordable Care Act standards is illegal. ... "After these discussions, I believe they understand where we are coming from better, and we understand their position better," Little said in a prepared statement. "Moving forward, I am very optimistic that we can work together with the Trump Administration to implement an Idaho-based solution for health care that works for Idahoans and fulfills the goals of Idaho's executive order." (Kruesi, 3/15)
In other news —
Politico Pro:
Pelosi: Obamacare Funding May Be Left Out Of Omnibus
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Thursday expressed doubt that an Obamacare stabilization package would be part of this month’s $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill because of a lingering dispute over abortion policy. “One of the regrets we have about the negotiation is that we thought there’d be a chance to have a health piece, like 'reinsurance,' to kind of help,” Pelosi told reporters in a brief interview Thursday. “But everything about health care, [Republicans] want to put Hyde on,” she said, referring to the prohibition on the federal funding of abortion known as the Hyde amendment that's a regular feature of annual spending bills. (Ferris and Haberkorn, 3/15)
Politico Pro:
Cole: Obamacare Stabilization Could Cost Too Many GOP Votes
House Labor-HHS appropriations subcommittee chairman Tom Cole said the omnibus spending bill should not include funding to stabilize Obamacare insurance markets because it would cost too many Republican votes. He added that legislative text of the entire bill is unlikely before Monday evening. “I would prefer not to do [Obamacare stabilization] unless it is coupled with some reform,” Cole said Thursday. “You risk a lot of Republican votes with that and I think we need a very healthy majority of the majority. The interest in that seems to be more on the other side of the rotunda than on our side.” (Haberkorn, 3/15)
