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Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is throwing his hat into the ring of Republicans vying to shape the party’s health care policy this summer. GOP lawmakers have been wrestling for months over what to do if the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits in most of the country, a move that would upend a big part of the law. A decision is expected in June, and Republican leaders believe it will give them a chance to overhaul a law they have long opposed. Mr. Cassidy, a freshman senator and a physician before going into politics, outlined a plan to let states choose to opt out of the law, widely known as Obamacare, if the court strikes down the credits. (Radnofsky, 5/13)

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi says Republicans will "rue the day" if the Supreme Court buys their arguments and invalidates tax subsidies for millions of people under President Barack Obama's health care law. Republicans have said they will try to ensure people don't lose coverage if the high court rules this summer against tax subsidies for health care coverage in certain states. But they haven't said how they would do it. (Werner, 5/13)

Knee-replacement surgery was the most disproportionately popular "preference-sensitive" health care treatment that people who are newly insured under the Affordable Care Act received in the first few months of 2014, according to a new analysis from the Society of Actuaries. Preference-sensitive care, to untangle the jargon, is health care that you can put off without inviting a crisis, even if you might like to get it. A visit to the emergency room visit or to the doctor to manage a chronic condition like diabetes is not preference-sensitive. Getting your knee replaced, on the other hand, is more optional. (Scott, 5/13)

A key question remains for many students who've finally settled on a college destination: How will they or their parents handle health care coverage? A doctor's office visit can cost over $100 for someone without insurance. A car accident that turns into a short hospital day can quickly bury a student and his or her parents in more than $30,000 in debt. Plus those who skip coverage may face a penalty under the federal health care overhaul. Brokers say students heading off to school in the fall can finalize their insurance plans as late as July or August. But they should start thinking about their needs long before they begin packing for a dorm. (Murphy, 5/13)