What We're Reading: Confusion Over ACA Ruling; Government Drug Manufacturing; Arkansas Medicaid Coverage

Confusion After ACA Ruling

On Friday, a federal judge ruled that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was invalid without the individual mandate, but states who support the health law are seeking clarity over the ruling. According to The New York Times, 16 states said there was ambiguity over whether the law was still in effect or if the judge’s ruling was supposed to have immediate effect. The states are asking the federal judge to protect the current healthcare coverage millions of Americans receive under the ACA.

Warren Wants a Government-Run Drug Manufacturer

17,000 Arkansans Lose Medicaid Over Work Requirements

Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, is expected to release a bill that would get the federal government into drug manufacturing. The bill takes aim at drug prices by creating a government-run manufacturer that would mass produce generic drugs, reported Politico. Warren’s bill would be the latest Democratic bill to target pharmaceutical companies and joins 3 other bills, including one from Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and 2 from Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon. It is unlikely that Warren’s bill would pass in the Republican-controlled Senate.Since Arkansas introduced work requirements into its Medicaid program, nearly 17,000 people have lost their coverage, according to the latest state data. The Hill reported that there are another 2000 Medicaid beneficiaries who are at risk of losing their coverage next month. People who lost coverage in 2018 can reapply on January 1, 2019. Medicaid recipients must work, go to school, volunteer, or be searching for jobs for at least 80 hours per month in order to keep their coverage. People who fail to report their 80 hours of work for 3 straight months will have coverage terminated.