Two congressional committee chairmen say they may issue a subpoena to get information from the HHS on the funding of an Affordable Care Act program available to states.
The ACA's Basic Health Program allows states to establish a program that provides health insurance to low-income residents outside of the marketplace. It can provide coverage continuity for people who fluctuate between qualifying for Medicaid and marketplace insurance. It also covers some legal immigrants.
So far, only two states, Minnesota and New York, are using the program.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady of Texas and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton of Michigan sent a letter Friday (PDF) to HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, asking her agency to provide information on the program's funding for the past six months, which they say has been without congressional approval.
“We remain deeply concerned about the administration's decision, and your agency's lack of cooperation with this important investigation. We write today to once again ask that you provide information to the Committees,” they wrote.
They said the information was first requested in September, but a response two months later did not fulfill their request and had improper redactions. They requested the information again in December but have yet not received a response.
If they do not receive a response by Jan. 28, they will consider issuing a subpoena, they said.
