After today's #SCOTUS oral argument in the case challenging the #ACA, I’m cautiously optimistic the law will survive. Even if the Court finds the mandate unconstitutional, Chief Justice Roberts & Justice Kavanaugh seem likely to say it's fully “severable” from the rest of the law Justice Kavanaugh said removing just the individual mandate was a “straightforward” result & that it “seems clear” that the 2017 Congress wanted to preserve the pre-existing condition protections when it zeroed out the tax penalty

Looking ahead to tomorrow morning’s #SCOTUS hearing in California v. Texas, the case with implications for the #ACA’s ultimate survival, here’s a preview of what to watch: The Court will hear from each side for 40 minutes: California & the US House will argue in support of the ACA, while the Trump Administration, Texas, and 2 individuals will oppose the ACA.

An appeals court has unanimously struck down #Arkansas’ Medicaid work requirements, ruling that the Trump administration’s approval was counter to #Medicaid’s statutory objective of providing affordable health coverage. While today’s decision striking down #AR’s waiver doesn’t directly invalidate #Medicaid work requirement approvals in other states, it does signal that similar approvals are likely to be successfully challenged in litigation.

CMS just approved #Wisconsin’s request to extend and amend its Section 1115 #Medicaid demonstration waiver. Wisc. is unique in that it covers childless adults up to the federal poverty level (at the state’s regular matching rate). medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-… CMS approved 3 new conditions of Medicaid eligibility for childless adults in #WI today: (1) a work & reporting requirement for those ages 19-49; (2) $8 monthly premiums for those from 50-100% FPL; & (3) fully completing a health risk assessment at application & annual renewal.