Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
High Court Decision Could Be Wild Card For GOP Presidential Field In 2016 Primary Campaign
Reuters: Obamacare Could Create Quandary For Republicans Before U.S. 2016 Election
Obamacare could put Republicans in a bind in the run-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election if the U.S. Supreme Court in the next week upends part of the law designed to make healthcare accessible to all Americans, leaving millions to fend for themselves for health insurance. The court is due to decide by the end of June whether to jettison tax subsidies in 34 states that help low- and moderate-income people buy medical coverage. A political flashpoint since it was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) makes federal subsidies available to people who cannot afford to pay for health insurance. (Whitesides, 6/24)
The Associated Press: Walker Says Obama, Federal Government Must Fix Subsidies
If the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down health care subsidies available under federal law, it's up to President Barack Obama and Congress to fix it — not the states, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday. Walker, who is expected to launch his run for president in mid-July, wrote an opinion piece and answered questions about the issue following a bill signing ceremony in Milwaukee. The Supreme Court is expected to rule this month on whether subsidies under the 2010 law can continue to go to Wisconsin and 33 other states that use the federal HealthCare.gov website and don't run their own insurance exchanges. (Bauer, 6/24)
Fox News: Senator Cruz: 'Under No Circumstances Should Republicans In Congress Extend ObamaCare'
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told viewers Wednesday on "Special Report with Bret Baier" that he would not extend health care subsidies to six million Americans who face the very real possibility of losing them when the Supreme Court issues a ruling on King v. Burwell. (6/24)
And here's how it's playing for one Senate candidate -
Politico: Anti-Obamacare Senator Braces For Court Ruling
The justices will rule any day now in King v. Burwell, a case that could eliminate health insurance subsidies for 6.4 million Americans, including more than 166,000 Wisconsinites. And few Republicans have done more to prepare for the ensuing uproar than [Sen. Ron] Johnson, just as he heads into a closely contested reelection race that could determine the next Senate majority. Johnson is the lead author of legislation aimed at responding to the Supreme Court decision, a bill that has been embraced by 31 colleagues, including Senate Republican leaders. Yet, Democrats already are bashing his plan as nothing more than a political message that has no chance of becoming law — while conservatives believe it is too generous because it temporarily extends those subsidies for up to two years. (Raju and Haberkorn, 6/25)
