Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Supreme Court To Hear Big Health Law Challenge In March
The Supreme Court said it will hear oral arguments on March 4 in a lawsuit over whether the Obama administration is improperly providing tax credits to consumers who purchase health insurance through the federal exchanges. The case will determine the fate of the tax credits to millions of consumers who have obtained insurance coverage through HealthCare.gov, the federal marketplace. (Armour, 12/22)
In July, a Richmond, Virginia-based appeals court upheld Internal Revenue Service regulations that allow health-insurance tax credits under the Affordable Care Act for consumers in all 50 states. On that same July day, a panel of appellate judges in Washington, District of Columbia, sided with the challengers in striking down the IRS regulations. (12/22)
Jonathan Gruber has arrived at the Supreme Court. The controversial consultant's name appears six times in a 129-page opening brief for plaintiffs challenging Obamacare in the blockbuster case King v. Burwell. The case, which will be heard by the Supreme Court on March 4, could erase health care subsidies in dozens of states. (Ferris, 12/22)
Federal officials are proposing to make the benefit summaries required for health plans on Obamacare's marketplaces more user-friendly. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced plans to streamline the documents while adding new information that will help consumers better understand cost-sharing. (Viebeck, 12/22)