Split decision! Fed appeals courts disagree on 

Obamacare subsidies

Courtesy CNBC, July 22 - SPLIT DECISION! In a dramatic split decision, two federal appeals panels disagreed Tuesday on the legality of Obamacare subsidies that gave billions of dollars to help 4.7 million people buy insurance on HealthCare.gov.

A panel of the appeals court that covers Washington, D.C., ruled 2-1 that the subsidies were and are illegal if issued through that federal exchange, as opposed to one set up by a state.

But about two hours later, a Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled 3-0 in another case that the subsidies are legal for people who buy plans on HealthCare.gov, which the federal government operates in 36 states.

The circuit split could mean the cases will soon land before the U.S. Supreme Court. For now, the subsidies remain in effect.

The stakes are immense, not least because of the value of the taxpayer-funded subsidies to Obamacare enrollees in two-thirds of the US.

The subsidies are also the linchpin to Obamacare's two mandates.

One mandate now requires people obtain affordable health insurance or pay a fine.The other, beginning in 2015, will require mid- to large-sized employers to offer such insurance to workers or pay a tax penalty.
 

To see the two decisions and read more, click here.

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New Committee to advise

HHS on Children's 

Health Disasters 

Courtesy hhs.gov -  Fifteen experts will serve on a new federal advisory committee focusing on health needs of children in disasters, from natural disasters to bioterrorism incidents, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced today.

 The National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters will provide advice and consultation to the Secretary on comprehensive planning and policies to meet the unique health needs of children before, during, and after a disaster or other public health emergency.

"Ensuring the safety and well-being of our nation's children in the wake of disasters is vital to building resilience in every community," said Secretary Burwell.  "We look forward to working with the committee toward this common goal."

The committee was established under the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013. HHS solicited nominations beginning in January 2014 from scientific, public health, and medical fields. Members were selected from 82 nominations and can be viewed here.

 Members will select a committee chairperson during the first public meeting Aug. 8 in Washington. 

 The committee will advise on efforts that build on prior work by HHS and partner agencies to ensure U.S. communities impacted by disasters can meet the health needs of children. For example, in 2010, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) established the Children's HHS Interagency Leadership on Disasters (CHILD) working group  to identify and comprehensively integrate related disaster planning activities across all components of HHS.

Progress made by the CHILD working group included increased interagency coordination and recommendations to improve lifesaving care for children in disasters, ways to mitigate the behavioral and psychological needs of children in disasters, and medications and vaccines appropriate for use to protect children in an emergency. The working group also recommended ways the nation could support child care and child welfare agencies in emergencies.

HHS is the principal federal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. ASPR is an HHS leader in preparing the nation to respond to and recover from adverse health effects of emergencies, supporting communities' ability to withstand adversity, strengthening health and response systems, and enhancing national health security.

To learn more about preparing for and responding to the health impacts of disasters, visit www.phe.gov. More information about the committee is available at www.phe.gov/naccd.