Kavanaugh Took Swipe At Administration Just Days Before Nomination With Ruling On Medicare Payments

The hospitals that brought the suit said Medicare had been using the flawed data since 1983. The federal government tried to bar their claims, saying hospitals should not be able to challenge factual determinations made many years ago. “Saving money is a laudable goal,” Judge Brett Kavanaugh said, “but not one that may be pursued by using phony facts to shift costs onto the backs of hospitals.”

The New York Times: Hospitals Challenge Medicare Payments, With Help From Judge Kavanaugh

A federal appeals court has cleared the way for hospitals around the country to seek more money from Medicare, based on evidence that the government has been using faulty data to calculate costs for decades. The case, which was decided in June, featured a concurring opinion by Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, President Trump’s choice for the Supreme Court, who heaved a broadside at the Department of Health and Human Services just days before he was nominated. (Pear, 7/16)

Meanwhile, groups continue to pump money into the confirmation battle —

Politico: Conservative Group Drops Another $1.4 Million To Confirm Kavanaugh

The conservative Judicial Crisis Network is dropping another $1.4 million on ads to help Brett Kavanaugh get confirmed to the Supreme Court. The group's ad buy this week will bring its total spending to $3.8 million, according to an official familiar with the efforts. The latest batch of ads will target four Democratic senators from conservative states on national cable and broadcast networks in their home markets: Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Doug Jones of Alabama. (Everett, 7/16)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

Trump 2.0

Public Health

Audio Reports

Special Reports

More Topics