A federal judge's ruling that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional is likely to be overturned on appeal and may boomerang politically on Republicans. Judge Reed O'Connor ruled for some 20 state plaintiffs that the ACA's individual mandate is no longer legal because Republicans repealed its financial penalty as part of the 2017 tax reform. Recall that Chief Justice … [Read more...]
Midterm election boosts Medicaid expansion, but challenges remain
Medicaid — which has been a political football between Washington and state capitols during the past decade — scored big in Tuesday’s election. Following the vote, nearly 500,000 uninsured adults in five states are poised to gain Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, advocates estimate. Three deep-red states passed ballot measures expanding their programs and two … [Read more...]
Healthcare isn’t a game. The Texas ACA lawsuit could be catastrophic for public health
Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, America’s access to healthcare has improved dramatically. Roughly 20 million Americans have gained health insurance coverage. Medicare beneficiaries can now get free preventive care and pay less for prescription drugs. And no one can be denied coverage based on preexisting conditions. And yet, a group of 20 … [Read more...]
5 FAQs about the Obamacare lawsuit being heard this week
Wednesday is looking like yet another pivotal day in the life-or-death saga that has marked the history of the Affordable Care Act. In a Texas courtroom, a group of Republican attorneys general, led by Texas’ Ken Paxton, are set to face off against a group of Democratic attorneys general, led by California’s Xavier Becerra, in a lawsuit aimed at striking down the federal … [Read more...]
Texas wins $300 million Obamacare ruling
The Internal Revenue Service could hand Texas more than $300 million, after a federal court in North Texas ruled that the federal government improperly charged a handful of states millions in state Medicaid program fees that help fund the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led a group of states in a 2015 lawsuit to recover money the … [Read more...]
Race for Texas attorney general heats up over Ken Paxton’s lawsuit to overturn Obamacare
AUSTIN — The Democrat challenging Ken Paxton is denouncing the attorney general for suing to wipe out the Affordable Care Act's health care protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. Justin Nelson, a Houston attorney, plans to hold a rally outside the federal courthouse in Fort Worth where Paxton's team will argue its case next week. He's also launched a website … [Read more...]
Senate GOP want new bill to blunt ACA lawsuit
SENATE GOP WANT NEW BILL TO BLUNT ACA LAWSUIT — Ten Republicans are proposing legislation that would force health insurers to cover everyone regardless of health status, POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn scoops. — Why they’re doing it: Conservative states, led by Texas, are pursuing a lawsuit that would roll back the ACA’s protections for pre-existing conditions and other popular … [Read more...]
Trial date set for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit to end Affordable Care Act
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sued in February, is leading a 20-state coalition along with Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel to fight against the Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as Obamacare. The trial date has been set for Sept. 10, 2018. The ACA was enacted in March 2010, which was advertised as providing affordable and accessible health … [Read more...]
Federal judge in Texas says U.S. government owes Kansas $142 million
TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Gov. Jeff Colyer are touting a federal court ruling handed down Tuesday that says the federal government must repay hundreds of millions of dollars to six states – including $142 million to Kansas – for costs they were forced to pay through their Medicaid programs to help finance the Affordable Care Act, also known as … [Read more...]
Uninsured Texas children falling behind the rest of the United States
Texas children are being left behind without access to healthcare, partly as a result of action taken by former Gov. Rick Perry to cut the expansion of Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. According to a new study by Wallethub, Texas ranks 49th in the country for children with access to health insurance, an indication that healthcare is on … [Read more...]