Government Officials Respond To Supreme Court Ruling On Obamacare

  • Thursday, June 25, 2015

The Supreme Court released its ruling on King v. Burwell on Thursdayupholding that subsidies are allowed in the federal marketplace.

Many government officials responded after the ruling.

Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander said, “It’s unfortunate that the Supreme Court didn’t read the law the way that Congress wrote it. The 36 percent increase in some individual health care rates announced recently should remind Tennesseans that Obamacare was an historic mistake. It gave Americans higher health care costs while reducing our choices of health plans, doctors and hospitals. Republicans are ready to reduce the cost of health care so more people can afford it, put patients back in charge, and restore freedom and choice to the health care market.” 

Senator Bob Corker said, “Today’s ruling affirms that it is up to Congress to come together around a responsible solution that provides relief from the damaging effects of the president’s health care law, including policies to provide far greater choice in the marketplace so affordable plans that meet the actual needs of Tennesseans can openly and effectively compete for their business."

Senator Corker voted against passage of the health care law and has voted for legislation to repeal it.

Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris said, “The Supreme Court's opinion may be a judicial sleight of hand, but it's the law of the land. It clears the air in that we now know many Tennesseans will keep their subsidized coverage. Next, we must focus on how best to control the costs of TennCare going forward so thousands of others won't lose theirs.”

House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh said, "Regardless of your feelings about the Affordable Care Act, one of the most conservative courts in the history of this country has ruled--again--that it is the law of the land. There are no more excuses for this legislature or its leadership to ignore the 300,000 working men and women waiting on health care. We have work to do. It is my hope that the Governor and our speakers will call legislators back to Nashville immediately to work on passing Insure Tennessee."

Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Ryan Haynes said, Obamacare was created, passed, and implemented on a party-line basis. Democrats essentially shoved this down the throats of Americans and it is disheartening to see the Court develop another avenue to keep this hurtful law alive. Individuals and businesses are struggling under this law. Republicans are going to continue offering solutions to actually drive health care costs down and make quality health care accessible once again—which is the exact opposite of what Americans have gotten under this flawed law.”

Speaker Beth Harwell said, "The Supreme Court's decision is both surprising and disappointing. However, there will be no interruption for Tennesseans who have insurance through the federal exchange and no major disruption to the state's insurance marketplace. The Supreme Court's ruling shows the Affordable Care Act is a federal program, and this gives the U.S. Congress the opportunity to address the significant problems with the law. With Tennessee's TennCare waiver up for renewal next year, I hope HHS will be in a different posture to consider additional flexibility for our state Medicaid program and will consider block grants."

Majority Leader Gerald McCormick said, "Obviously, I am disappointed with today's Supreme Court ruling. ObamaCare has been a failed law from the start, and it is unfortunate that it has survived another legal challenge. I am hopeful that our elected officials in Washington will take action to repeal this law and replace it with something that will be beneficial for all citizens." 

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said, “I agree with Justice Scalia that this decision is ‘quite absurd.’ While I am disappointed in the Supreme Court’s ruling, the decision today confirmed what we have said all along: Obamacare is a poorly written law that was not read by the Members of Congress who passed it. Although this is a setback, it is by no means the end of our fight. I will continue to work to repeal Obamacare and replace it with true free market healthcare reform that benefits hardworking families and businesses in East Tennessee.”

Rep. Tom Graves said, “I am very disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision to once again save Obamacare from itself. Although the Court has spoken, I will continue working to protect my constituents from the harmful effects of this law. My hope is that the next president will work with Congress to repeal the law and replace it with legislation that restores freedom, puts patients first and expands choice.”

Rep. Scott DesJarlais said, “I am terribly disappointed in the Supreme Court’s ruling. As I have said from the beginning, this issue goes well beyond the Affordable Care Act and to the very heart of our constitutional separation of powers. The Supreme Court has further expanded executive power to the point where the White House now believes it has the ability to unilaterally change laws – a power exclusively reserved for Congress. Though subsidies have been preserved for less than 5 percent of individuals, it does not change the fact that the vast majority of Tennesseans will continue to face unaffordable premiums and deductibles, which are set to increase by double-digits next year. That is why it is imperative we continue in our efforts to repeal this law and replace it with patient-centered solutions that meet the needs of Tennessee seniors, small business owners, and middle-class families.”

Jacob Flowers, Tennessee state director of Enroll America, said, “Today’s decision from the Supreme Court is a victory for the 155,000 Tennesseans who receive financial help to pay for their coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. In fact, 85% of Marketplace enrollees in Tennessee receive these tax credits, and the average tax credit in Tennessee is $218 per month. After finally being able to access quality, affordable health coverage, these consumers can now be certain that the promise of that coverage remains there for them and that they can get the care they need. Consumers should know that nothing has changed; financial help to pay for their plans will be available. And for those who remain uninsured, they should know that financial help for health insurance is available and here to stay. We and our partners here in Tennessee are hard at work preparing for the next open enrollment period when we plan to get even more Tennesseans covered. Although we’ve always felt confident about the outcome of this case, it’s a relief to finally be able to move past these divisive arguments and continue our work making sure Tennesseans know about the health insurance options available to them.”


 

Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini said, “We are relieved for the nearly 200,000 Tennesseans who will continue to have access to affordable health care. It’s clear that the Supreme Court justices did the right thing in looking at the intent of the law rather than siding with a twisted interpretation of individual phrases.

"The Affordable Care Act has saved lives and will continue help build a healthier America. The TNDP will continue to work to ensure every Tennessean has access to affordable health care, especially those in the “insurance gap” left by the Republican failure to pass Insure TN. For Democrats, the fight for strong families and effective government is not over, even with this ruling.” 

Beacon CEO and attorney Justin Owen said, "Despite the ruling today, we must find ways to make healthcare more accessible to all Tennesseans. Allowing the IRS to change the law to apply subsidies and penalties in states with no exchange means that the true cost of healthcare will continue to be disguised from consumers and shifted to someone else.

"Obamacare has been proven to be unaffordable, unworkable, and unfair. We should not invite further consequences of this already failing law into our state by expanding Medicaid. Instead we should focus on real solutions that will help all Tennesseans obtain quality healthcare and the insurance plan they like. Examples include repealing the costly insurance mandate for all Americans, expanding charity care, embracing innovations such as telemedicine, and reforming the existing Medicaid program for those truly in need."


 

Officials from the Tennessee Medical Association said, "The Supreme Court’s ruling today provides much-needed clarity for healthcare providers and patients in Tennessee.

"The uncertainty surrounding tax credits and federal and state health insurance exchanges jeopardized patient care and was a potential disruptor to our healthcare system, especially for the nearly 156,000 Tennesseans who currently use federal subsidies to purchase health insurance on the federal exchange.

"We can now all move forward with a continued focus on increasing access, delivering quality care and improving patient health."

Walter Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, said, "The Supreme Court was right to recognize that health reform provides tax credits for consumers in all states. Now it’s time for people on both sides of the aisle to accept that the law is working and take important steps to fully implement it. 

"Today is a good day for Tennesseans and all Americans. It is time for state and federal legislators to realize that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the law of the land.  More than that, it is a law that is working for the good of all Americans. Fewer uninsured. Calming of price increases. Preventive care available to millions reducing the costs and lessening the risk of serious diseases."

 


 

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