Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Appeals Court: Trump Violated Law By Stopping ACA Subsidies For Low-Income Patients
A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration violated the law when it abruptly stopped paying for subsidies intended to reduce healthcare costs for low-income individuals who buy coverage on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. In a separate decision also issued Friday, the same court said health insurers should not collect a windfall from the decision. While the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals said insurers are entitled to the full amount of unpaid cost-sharing reduction subsidies for 2017, the amount owed for 2018 should be reduced because insurers were able to raise premiums to make up for the loss of subsidies. (Livingston, 8/14)
Kaiser Health News: 鈥楶ennie鈥-Pinching States Take Over Obamacare Exchanges From Feds聽
Pennsylvania is rolling out its new 鈥淧ennie鈥 this fall: a state-run insurance exchange that officials say will save residents collectively millions of dollars on next year鈥檚 health plan premiums. Since the Affordable Care Act鈥檚 marketplaces opened for enrollment in fall 2013, Pennsylvania, like most states, has used the federal www.healthcare.gov website for people buying coverage on their own. (Galewitz, 8/17)