Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
KHN First Edition: March 12, 2015
Politico: The Federalism Fallacy In King V. Burwell
A great deal is at stake here. If the plaintiffs win, individuals in 34 states—the states that have opted not to operate a state insurance exchange—will still be subject to Obamacare’s individual mandate, but they won’t qualify for federal tax subsidies. As a result, their insurance will cost more out-of-pocket. Moreover, because individuals in these 34 states won’t get tax subsidies, employers in these states won’t be subject to the employer mandate, so they won’t have to offer health insurance and can’t be taxed for failing to do so. And yet, those states would be able to continue registering their profound opposition to the entirety of the Obamacare regulatory scheme, thereby undermining its legitimacy. Given these consequences, supporters of Obamacare are pulling out all the stops to prevent a plaintiffs’ victory. (David Rivkin and Elizabeth Price Foley, 3/11)
USA Today/FactCheck.org: Fact Check: King V. Burwell Fallout
The plaintiffs in this case — David King and three other Virginia residents – argue that the language of the ACA stipulates that insurance subsidies should only be available in states that set up their own exchanges, not states that rely on the federally run HealthCare.gov. The plaintiffs focus on language in the law about subsidies being available for those enrolled in an exchange "established by the State." The federal government, meanwhile, argues that the law, as a whole, makes clear subsidies should be available for those enrolling in any exchange, whether established by the state or federal government. (Robertson, 3/11)
The Washington Post's Wonkblog: The Supreme Court’s Obamacare Decision Could Do The Most Damage In The South
If the Supreme Court rules this summer that federal-run Obamacare exchanges can't provide health insurance subsidies, the results could be chaotic for those receiving the financial aid across the country — but especially in the South. About 11.7 million people have signed up for 2015 exchange plans, including 8.8 million who selected coverage in states with federal-run exchanges, the Obama administration announced Tuesday. The vast majority of those people are receiving subsidies, which on average cuts monthly premiums by 72 percent. Those size of the typical discount, though, varies by state. (Millman, 3/11)
Politico: Republicans Mull Reconciliation, Await Supreme Court Obamacare Ruling
One leading contender is reserving the technique, which short circuits filibusters in the Senate by letting tax and spending bills pass with a majority vote, to move any legislative response needed to a Supreme Court decision unraveling the Affordable Care Act. The court is expected to decide the case, King v. Burwell, in late June. The court is considering complaints that the law does not permit the administration to provide health insurance subsidies in states that did not set up their own exchanges. A ruling against the administration could cut off financial assistance to as many as 8 million Americans, creating chaos in the program and demanding a quick legislative fix from Congress. (Faler, 3/11)
The Associated Press: House Leaders Looking For Deal To Halt Medicare Payment Cuts
Aides to top House Republicans and Democrats are trying to negotiate a bipartisan compromise to permanently revamp a law that annually threatens cuts in Medicare payments to doctors, including a 21 percent reduction set to take effect April 1. As part of the talks, bargainers are considering budget cuts that could offset part, but not all, of the measure's costs, according to lobbyists following the negotiations. The estimated 10-year price of repealing the annual Medicare cuts is roughly $175 billion. (Fram, 3/11)
The Wall Street Journal: Congress Explores Longer-Term Solution For Medicare Physician Payments
Congressional leaders are discussing ways permanently to end the recurring scramble to avoid cuts in Medicare payments to physicians, lawmakers and aides said on Wednesday. House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio), Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), and the leaders of several House committees are looking for ways to solve the perennial problem known as “doc fix” before the latest short-term patch expires at month’s end, aides said. (Peterson and Radnofsky, 3/11)
The Associated Press: Specialty Drugs Save Lives, Come With Daunting Price Tags
Doctors hail many of these [specialty drugs] as breakthroughs, since they can conquer or control diseases that were once almost untreatable. But they can cost more than $80,000 for a single course of treatment .... Legislatures in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Illinois, among other states, are considering bills that would limit prescription drug costs for patients. Six states, including New York and Maryland, have already passed such measures. Rep. David McKinley, a Republican from West Virginia, will soon introduce a bill for Congress to consider. Some of these bills and laws restrict overall drug costs to patients, while others target specialty medications with measures that aim to keep their costs more in line with other drugs. (Murphy, 3/11)
The Washington Post: Maryland House Takes Steps To Reverse Cuts Made In Hogan’s Budget
The plan, which must also be considered by the Senate before reaching Hogan’s desk, will probably restore cuts made by Hogan to Medicaid reimbursements, K-12 education funding and state employees’ salaries. ... Several panels of the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday voted on recommendations that would allow for the restoration of Medicaid coverage for pregnant women whose income levels were slightly above the regular eligibility for the federal program, and on full funding for some of the state’s most expensive public school systems. (Wiggins, 3/11)
The Associated Press: Disability Advocates Keep Close Watch On New Texas Governor
Abbott’s physical limitations provide more exposure to the difficulties faced by disabled Americans, and the new governor could be an asset to organizations pressing for changes to ease the public lives of the disabled in Texas and elsewhere. But while advocates take some pride in having a governor with visible disabilities, their optimism is muted by Abbott’s record. (3/11)
USA Today: Kentucky Looks At Needle-Exchange Success In Ohio City
A steady stream of weary-looking addicts, many with bags of used hypodermic needles stuffed into old winter coats, walked into an alley behind the health department and joined a small line inside. Called in one by one to a tiny room, the mix of young women, couples and older men gave only their initials, ZIP code and drug of choice to two health workers at folding tables. "Heroin?" asked Lisa Roberts, a nurse with the Portsmouth City Health Department. "Tar, powder or both?" (Kenning, 3/10)
The Associated Press: Oregon Lawmaker Drops Bill To Ban Most Vaccine Exemptions
Legislation aiming to pressure Oregon parents to get their children vaccinated was abandoned Wednesday because of formidable opposition in a state that has the nation’s highest rate of nonmedical exemptions, a move that comes as several other states wrestle with similar proposals. (3/11)
Los Angeles Times: Countering Criticism, Steinberg Says Mental Health Law Showing Results
Seeking to quell criticism that his signature mental health initiative lacks accountability, former state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg pushed back Wednesday with a study he commissioned showing declines in homelessness, arrests and incarcerations for people receiving treatment under the law. “The public has every right to know exactly how these dollars are being spent and what results are being attained because of this investment,” Steinberg said at a Wednesday news conference. (Mason, 3/11)
The Associated Press: Bills Banning Most Vaccine Exemptions Fail In Northwest
Legislative efforts to increase pressure on parents to get their kids vaccinated failed in Oregon and Washington state Wednesday amid stiff opposition as a handful of other statehouses consider similar bills prompted by a measles outbreak at Disneyland. Oregon's measure, which had the support of Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, would have made the state the third in the country allowing exemptions from immunizations only for medical reasons, and no longer for religious, philosophical or personal reasons. Mississippi and West Virginia are the only other states that have comparable laws in place. (3/11)
NPR: When Life Overwhelms, This Group Lends A Healthy Hand
Health Leads operates in seven cities across the U.S. and has more than a thousand volunteer advocates, the vast majority of whom are college students. It was founded by Rebecca Onie. Now the organization's CEO (and recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship in 2009) Onie came up with the idea as a college sophomore in the 1990s. While volunteering at a hospital in Boston, she often asked doctors this question: If you had unlimited resources, what's the one thing you would give your patients? (Kelto, 3/12)
