White House Crafts Health Law Arguments To Appeal To Conservative Justices
When the Supreme Court hears arguments in King v. Burwell, the Obama administration lawyers will highlight states' rights issues in their attempts to draw support from key justices. Meanwhile, news outlets continue to examine the impact that the court's ruling could have on the law's future and the insurance marketplace.
Los Angeles Times:
Obamacare Defense Is Tailored For Key Supreme Court Justices
With President Obama's healthcare law once again facing possible unraveling at the hands of the Supreme Court, the administration and its allies have developed a novel argument tailor-made to appeal to conservative justices: states' rights. The high court is set to hear arguments March 4 to determine the legality of Affordable Care Act subsidies for approximately 7 million Americans who receive coverage from federally run health insurance marketplaces, also known as exchanges. (Savage, 2/26)
Politico:
Supreme Court Ruling Could Upturn Obamacare Politics
What Obamacare gave, the Supreme Court could take away. The Supreme Court next Wednesday hears a case that could end Obamacare subsidies in 34 states that use HealthCare.gov. If the justices rule that the subsidies are illegal through the federal exchange, they would largely unravel President Barack Obama’s health care law, which has helped millions of Americans get insured. (Nather and Haberkorn, 2/26)
Los Angeles Times:
The Conservative Ruling That Might Save Obamacare
The Pennhurst State School and Hospital outside Philadelphia was once one of America’s most notorious institutions. During much of the 20th century, it was where the state of Pennsylvania confined thousands of children and adults with mental and physical disabilities, some in horrific conditions. The long legal battle to close the facility made Pennhurst a landmark in the historic campaign to expand the rights of Americans with disabilities. (Levey, 2/25)
The Hill:
Insurance Group Raises Alarms About Looming ObamaCare Case
The Obama administration should allow insurance companies to raise their rates, if the Supreme Court decides to gut a central piece of the Affordable Care Act this summer, a national insurance group said Wednesday. In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Actuaries warns that the challenge before the high court threatens the financial health of insurance companies. (Ferris, 2/25)
Kaiser Health News:
Supreme Court Insurance Subsidies Decision Could Trigger Price Spikes
Making health insurance available and affordable to millions of people who buy their own coverage was a key goal for backers of the federal health law known as Obamacare. But if the Supreme Court strikes down the insurance subsidies of millions of Americans who rely on the federal insurance marketplace, it could leave many worse off than they were before the law took effect, say experts. (Appleby, 2/26)
Modern Healthcare:
Supreme Court Ruling Carries Implications For Regulatory Boards
State professional regulatory boards may seek out more state supervision or even change their membership makeup because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision Wednesday against a North Carolina dental board accused of illegally suppressing competition. The court ruled Wednesday that the North Carolina dental regulatory board, composed mostly of dentists, illegally suppressed competition when it told non-dentists to stop offering teeth-whitening services. (Schencker, 2/25)