News Briefs
✦ The Trump administration and Republican state attorneys general filed a countermotion against a bid by Democratic state attorneys general and House Democrats to speed the Supreme Court’s review of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit’s decision on Texas v. United States, which deemed the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional (HPW 1/6/20, p. 1). The House motion argued that delaying review would cause instability in health insurance markets, and adversely affect enrollees. America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a payer trade group, filed an amicus brief in support of the Democrats’ motion. “The district court’s original decision to invalidate the entire ACA was misguided and wrong,” said AHIP CEO Matt Eyles. View the court documents at https://bit.ly/2RmDVMR and https://bit.ly/2suLJUf.
✦ Kentucky Gov. Andrew Beshear (D) reissued a request for proposals (RFP) for Medicaid managed care contracts after the state legislature removed enrollee work requirements from the authorizing legislation (HPW 1/6/20, p. 7). Beshear’s administration set Feb. 7 as the deadline for proposals, and hopes to enter vendor agreements with up to five payers. Current contracts, which expire June 30, are in effect with CVS Health Corp.’s Aetna, Humana Inc., Anthem, Inc., WellCare Health Plans, Inc., and Kentucky non-profit payer Passport. UnitedHealth Group and Molina Healthcare, Inc. participated in the previous administration’s RFP. The state will additionally award a contract to one of the bidders that will provide care for youth living under state authority. View the RFP at https://bit.ly/373gVJl.
