10.25.2017 / Press Release

Families USA Urges a Speedy Reversal to Disappointing Ruling on the ACA’s Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments

Washington, D.C. – Today the Northern District Court of California ruled it will not force the Trump Administration to continue making monthly payments to insurers that reimburse them for reducing out-of-pocket costs for lower-income Americans. The next federal payment to insurance companies was due on Friday.

Families USA and the National Health Law Program (NHeLP), along with a coalition of 29 state and national consumer groups, filed an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit brought by 18 states and the District of Columbia to reverse the Trump Administration’s recent decision to stop paying for cost-sharing reductions that insurers are legally required to provide to low-wage, working families.

Following is the statement of Families USA Senior Fellow Stan Dorn:

“We are disappointed in today’s interim ruling, which will let the Trump Administration continue denying payment of cost-sharing reductions, at least for now. As we explained in the amicus brief filed by 29 national and state consumer groups, millions of families in America will suffer serious harm due to this latest step in the Administration’s ongoing campaign to sabotage the Affordable Care Act.

“We hope that today’s decision is speedily reversed, either through later judicial proceedings or by Congress swiftly enacting the bipartisan Alexander-Murray proposal to restore these payments and stabilize health insurance markets.”