Next month, the U.S. Supreme Court will issue its ruling in King v. Burwell. The case challenges the legality of providing federal subsidies to individuals who purchased health insurance coverage through federal (rather than state-run) exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA or “Obamacare”). Millions of Americans currently receive those federal exchange subsidies; relatively few states have set up exchanges of their own. Regardless of how the Court rules on Burwell, one of the two sides in the broader battle over the ACA will confront a major and difficult challenge.
If the Court strikes down the subsidies, the basic structure of the entire law may be undermined unless ACA proponents can somehow enact fresh legislation to repair the damage. If, on the other hand, the Court decides to uphold subsidies for insurance purchased through the federal exchanges, the ACA will gain precious time to grow deeper roots in the American health care system—and congressional opponents seeking the law's repeal and replacement will have to adjust their strategy and tactics accordingly.
On May 21st at noon, Hudson Institute hosted a timely conversation about Burwell and its implications with Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA). Sen. Cassidy, a practicing physician with nearly three decades experience providing primary and specialist healthcare services to uninsured and underinsured patients in Baton Rouge, also discussed his plan, the Patient Freedom Act, a lower-cost, patient-friendly alternative to the ACA that would protect the 5-10 million Americans currently receiving federal insurance subsidies from losing their health coverage.
Click here to view Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D.'s PowerPoint Presentation.
Please join Hudson Senior Fellow and Director of the Keystone Defense Initiative Rebeccah Heinrichs for a conversation with Senators Risch and Wicker on US support for Ukraine’s defense on Wednesday, March 29, at 4:00 p.m. A reception will follow.
Please join Hudson Institute for a discussion with Israel's Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Ofir Akunis and Executive Director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute Robert Greenway, moderated by Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East Director Michael Doran.
Please join Hudson Institute to discuss what has gone wrong with US policy toward Venezuela and how the Biden administration and 118th Congress can reinvigorate efforts to support democracy so that all Venezuelans can have a brighter future.
