High Court Rejects Challenge To Health Law’s Cost-Cutting Panel
The case, Coons v. Lew, challenged the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act's Independent Payment Advisory Board. This panel, which was sometimes called a death panel by its critics, was created to control Medicare costs. IPAB opponents vow to continue their efforts, eyeing a congressional repeal as another course of action.
Politico:
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Case On Obamacare Medicare Board
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up the latest lawsuit against Obamacare, this time a challenge to a board that critics label a “death panel.” The case, Coons v. Lew, contested the constitutionality of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, among other complaints against Obamacare. The IPAB is designed to limit spending growth in Medicare, but the challengers say that it will result in limiting care for seniors. (Haberkorn, 3/30)
Reuters:
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Obamacare 'Death Panels' Challenge
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a new challenge to President Barack Obama's healthcare law that took aim at a bureaucratic board labeled by some Republicans as a "death panel" because it was designed to cut Medicare costs. The high court left intact a ruling by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that threw out the lawsuit. (Hurley, 3/30)
Modern Healthcare:
Supreme Court Declines To Hear Coons Case Challenging ACA
The U.S. Supreme Court won't hear a second case challenging the Affordable Care Act, the court announced Monday. But those behind the case say the refusal won't mark the end of their fight. The court on Monday announced that it would not hear Coons v. Lew, a case taking issue with the new healthcare law's independent payment advisory board (IPAB) – a body critics have denounced as a “death panel.” (Schencker, 3/30)
CQ Healthbeat:
Court Declines Medicare Payment Board Challenge
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to weigh in on a Republican-backed challenge to a controversial Medicare cost-cutting board authorized by the health care law, leaving congressional repeal efforts as opponents’ best chance for action. Justices denied the Goldwater Institute’s petition for review of an appeals court dismissal of a challenge to the constitutionality of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, or IPAB. (Attias, 3/30)
The Supreme Court will, however, decide if a beneficiary has to reimburse a health insurance company for care received after winning money in a lawsuit -
Modern Healthcare:
Supreme Court To Hear Case On Insurer Reimbursements
The Supreme Court announced Monday it would hear the case of Montanile v. Board of Trustees of the National Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan. The case asks, if a plan's beneficiary wins money in court for an injury but then spends it, should the beneficiary still have to reimburse his or her insurance plan for medical expenses it paid? It didn't take long for Robert Montanile to spend the $500,000 he won in a lawsuit against the drunk driver who slammed into his vehicle in 2008. He had ongoing medical expenses, lawyers' fees and a young daughter. (Schencker, 3/30)
