Many employers, hospitals, health insurers applaud ruling

Health insurers and hospitals welcomed Thursday’s Supreme Court decision upholding billions of dollars in Obamacare subsidies for U.S. consumers.

Many employers also applauded the 6-3 ruling, fearing the chaos that might have ensued in the health insurance markets from a ruling striking down the subsidies.

In the wake of the decision, employers and other health care industry officials urged political leaders to tackle the unfinished business of taming the country’s runaway medical spending.

“If we do not do more to control health care costs, the entire thing will collapse under its own weight regardless of what the Supreme Court or any other political body says,” said Micah Weinberg, president of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, an employer-backed group in San Francisco.

On Wall Street, hospital and health insurance company stocks rallied on news of the court decision.

Shares of hospital chain Tenet Healthcare Corp. shot up $6.13, or 12 percent, to $56.21 in trading Thursday.

UnitedHealth Group Inc., the nation’s largest health insurer, saw its shares jump $3.16, or 3 percent, to $122.33 after the decision was announced.

“Today is a sigh of relief for the health care industry,” said Megan Neuburger, a managing director and industry analyst at Fitch Ratings.

Aetna Inc., the nation’s third-largest health insurer, said subsidies played a significant role in attracting 6.4 million customers to federally run exchanges, and that an adverse ruling would have posed a major disruption.

“We believe that reform of the Affordable Care Act is still needed,” Aetna said in a statement. “We urge Congress to focus on solutions that improve quality, transition our payment system to value-based care and broaden consumer choice.”

Employer groups said they hope the court decision allows Congress and the Obama administration to address numerous issues related to the quality and cost of U.S. medical care.

“Now that the legal questions have been answered, the administration and Congress need to focus on real health reform – rationalizing the way we pay for and deliver health care in this country,” said Steve Wojcik, vice president of public policy at the National Business Group on Health.

Los Angeles Times