HomeCare Editors’ Top 5: Week of March 9

Justices Roberts And Kennedy Hold Key Votes In Health Law Case

With yet another do-or-die test of Obamacare before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, the justices were sharply divided. By the end of the argument, it was clear that the outcome will be determined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy. The chief justice said almost nothing during the argument, and Kennedy sent mixed signals, seeming to give a slight edge to the administration’s interpretation of the law. Judging by the comments from the remaining justices, the challengers would need the votes of both Roberts and Kennedy to win. (Nina Totenberg/ NPR)

US Faces 90,000 Doctor Shortage by 2025

The United States faces a shortage of as many as 90,000 physicians by 2025, including a critical need for specialists to treat an aging population that will increasingly live with chronic disease, the association that represents medical schools and teaching hospitals reported Tuesday. The nation’s shortage of primary care physicians has received considerable attention in recent years, but the Association of American Medical Colleges report predicts that the greatest shortfall, on a percentage basis, will be in the demand for surgeons — especially those who treat diseases more common to older people, such as cancer. (Lenny Bernstein/ The Washington Post)

Improper Payments Jumped $125 Billion for Federal Government Last Year

The federal government lost ground last year in reducing improper payments from programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and tax credits for the working poor, experiencing a nearly 18 percent increase in the costs. A report this week from the Government Accountability Office said the U.S. government forked over an estimated $124.7 billion to ineligible recipients in 2014, representing the first jump in four years. (Josh Hicks/ The Washington Post)

States On Edge About Future of Health Insurance Markets

Mixed signals from the Supreme Court have states on edge about the future of health insurance subsidies for millions of Americans. And a summer decision from the justices leaves little time for backup planning. Many governors, especially Republicans, want the federal government to craft a contingency plan and at least one governor – in Pennsylvania – is pursuing a state exchange, which would make sure his state was able to receive the subsidy. (Kelli Kennedy/ The Associated Press)

Voters Want Congress to Take Action if Health-Law Tax Credits Are Voided

A majority of voters wants Congress to take action if the Supreme Court voids the health law’s tax credits in much of the country, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey finds. The court is set to hear arguments Wednesday over whether the Obama administration can issue federal tax credits to offset the cost of health premiums to millions of Americans who live in states that haven’t set up their own insurance exchanges. The tax credits are closely tied to other provisions in the law, including requirements that most Americans buy coverage or pay a penalty, and insurers can’t reject people based on their medical history. (Louise Radnofsky/ The Wall Street Journal)