Obamacare opponents seek delay in appeals case

WASHINGTON (AP) – Opponents of Obamacare on Monday asked that an appeals court case on the Affordable Care Act be delayed because the Supreme Court is stepping into a separate case covering the same legal ground.

In a court filing, the opponents said there is no reason to consume the resources associated with a hearing of the entire U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit when the Supreme Court is poised to decide the same issue on virtually the same timeline.

The Supreme Court case probably will be argued the first week in March, with a decision expected by late June on the issue of subsidies that help millions of low- and middle-income people afford their health insurance premiums. The Supreme Court ruling will directly impact the appeals court case.

In July, the Richmond, Virginia-based appeals court upheld Internal Revenue Service regulations that allow health-insurance tax credits under the law for consumers in all 50 states.

On that same July day, a panel of appellate judges in the District of Columbia, sided with the challengers in striking down the IRS regulations. The Washington court held that under the law, financial aid can be provided only in states that have set up their own exchanges.

In October, the entire Washington appeals court voted to rehear the case and threw out the panel’s ruling.