Administration Conducted Inadequate Review of Key Issues Prior to Expanding Health Law's Taxes and Subsidies

Publication

Administration Conducted Inadequate Review of Key Issues Prior to Expanding Health Law's Taxes and Subsidies

Abstract

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Committee on Ways and Means launched investigations into the joint Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Department rule extending the premium subsidies created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to individuals purchasing coverage in federal exchanges. The Investigation revealed IRS and Treasury personnel lacked a thorough analysis of the law and legislative history. The committee states the decision to permit subsidies was not founded on comprehensive statutory evaluation despite earlier concerns raised within the agencies and public comments.