On Thursday (May 12), a federal court judge ruled against the White House’s favor, with regard to an allocation of funds spent with the ACA’s subsidy program. This program was designed to help low-income individuals and families achieve discounted deductibles and copays in an effort to alleviate out of pocket costs.
The funds used to pay into said program came into question, as U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Collyer has ruled that any further unaccounted funds may not be used for the ACA’s subsidy program. In Collyer’s decision, she highlighted that it is up to Congress to appropriate those funds for the program, which they had not done. The Obama administration will more than likely appeal her decision, though that action is still pending.
While this means that many low-income consumers may dig deeper into their pockets for health care, the Republican House is applauding Collyer’s decision. Calling the decision a “victory,” House Republican attorney Jonathan Turley expressed in a statement that this serves as an acknowledgment that branches aren’t self-governing and decisions such as these are a group effort.
It’s a move that unfortunately will manifest itself in the disadvantaged losing should the assumed White House appeal still result in a loss.