Senate Republicans Question Affordability of Health Law

Some Senate Finance Committee Republicans sent a letter July 10 to Jack Lew, secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, calling for an analysis of the cost of health insurance exchanges. The Senators specifically demand assurance that the exchanges will be self-sustaining, noting the Affordable Care Act requires states to ensure their exchange is self-sustaining by Jan. 15, 2015. The Senators also demand information about cost containment measures to address increases in the cost of advance premium tax credits. The letter was sent by Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) along with Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC), Pat Roberts (R-KS.), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Mike Enzi (R-WY).