The future of a lawsuit over ACA cost-sharing reduction payments — which help insurers subsidize the cost of coverage for low-income Americans — is uncertain, according to The Hill.
The Republican-led House filed the lawsuit in 2014, arguing the payments to insurers were not legally funded because Congress did not appropriate them. Two years later, House Republicans succeeded in the lawsuit, which was followed by an appeal from former President Barack Obama's administration.
President Donald Trump's administration has since delayed the lawsuit multiple times. Additionally, the president announced Oct. 12 his administration would end the CSR payments.
Now the House, HHS and the Treasury Department want to continue to keep the case paused so next steps can be determined, according to The Hill.
The publication cites a joint status report from the House and current administration, which states, "In light of the changed circumstances, plaintiff and defendants are actively discussing the disposition of this case and hope to file a motion with this court in furtherance of those efforts in the coming weeks."
At the same time, Democratic state attorneys general, who are defending the CSR payments, argued in a status report the case should proceed following the president's Oct. 12 announcement, reports The Hill.