Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
House Republicans Clash With Burwell Over Response To Possible Supreme Court Ruling
The New York Times: States And Congress Urged To Act If Justices Rule Against Health Law
The Obama administration’s top health care official said Wednesday that if the Supreme Court stopped the payment of health insurance subsidies to millions of Americans, it would be up to Congress and state officials to devise a solution. ... Ms. Burwell and the White House have said that they have no contingency plans to deal with the chaos that could result if the court strikes down subsidies in the pending case, King v. Burwell. (Pear, 6/10)
The Wall Street Journal: HHS Chief Burwell, House GOP Square Off Over Health-Law Case
House Republicans sent a clear signal Wednesday that they wouldn’t preserve the health law in its current form if the Supreme Court guts a key provision, and the Obama administration responded with equal clarity that the states and Congress would be the ones responsible for resolving any fallout. GOP legislators and Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell set out their messages at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing Wednesday, during a week in which both sides are fine-tuning their strategies on the case. (Radnofsky, 6/10)
Kaiser Health News: Burwell Says It’s Up To States, Congress To Help Consumers If Court Strikes Down Subsidies
It will be up to state officials and Congress to help consumers who can’t afford health insurance if the Supreme Court strikes down health law subsidies for millions of Americans, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said Wednesday. "The critical decisions will sit with the Congress and states and governors to determine if those subsidies are available," Burwell told the House Ways and Means Committee. The secretary told Congress earlier this year that the administration has no authority to undo 'massive damage' that would come if the court invalidates the subsidies in the online marketplaces, or exchanges, which the federal government operates in about three dozen states. (Carey and Pockros, 6/10)
The Associated Press: Health Head: Congress’ Problem If Court Voids Health Law Aid
Burwell’s comments to the House Ways and Means Committee marked a continuation of Obama administration efforts to pressure Republicans should the justices void subsidies that help millions afford health insurance. A decision is expected this month. The GOP runs Congress, and 26 of the 34 states likely to be hardest hit by such a decision have Republican governors. (Fram, 6/10)
The Hill: Ryan, Health Chief Clash Over ObamaCare Plans
The hearing was supposed to be about the HHS budget, but Ryan nixed that topic, citing Obama's speech on Tuesday strongly defending ObamaCare. "It shouldn’t surprise you that we’re more interested in talking about ObamaCare, especially given the president’s remarks this week," Ryan said. "Whatever the Supreme Court decides later this month, I think the lesson is absolutely clear: ObamaCare is flat busted." The top Democrat, Rep. Sandy Levin (Mich.), hit back at Ryan. "What's busted is not the ACA, but your attacks," he said. (Sullivan, 6/10)
The Fiscal Times: Obama Readies His Veto Pen For A GOP Health Care Fix
Burwell said the president would not sign a proposed GOP contingency plan that would allow subsidies to continue flowing in exchange for dismantling major provisions of the health law. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), would keep subsidies in place for all existing Obamacare enrollees until 2017, but two key components of the law—the individual and employer mandates—would be repealed. (Ehley, 6/10)
