Two recent developments in the nation’s capitol — one at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the other at the Supreme Court — merit close scrutiny from pharmacy operators and other large retailers. Impacting different aspects of the business, each of the moves by the federal government has the potential to produce significant consequences
NEW YORK — Ever since it was signed into the law by President Obama on March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act has been under constant attack by Republicans seeking to undermine the former president’s signature legislation. Despite surviving numerous attempts by congressional Republicans to repeal it and its constitutionality being upheld by a majority-conservative
WASHINGTON — States can collect sales tax from online sellers even if those companies don’t have a physical presence in the state, the Supreme Court ruled last month in a case with far-reaching implications for online commerce. “The physical presence rule has long been criticized as giving out-of-state sellers an advantage,” the court said in
WASHINGTON — Two recent Supreme Court decisions offered good news to retailers regarding their ongoing fight over the fees they pay on credit and debit card transactions. Late last month the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal that sought to reinstate a $7.25 billion antitrust settlement of price-fixing charges against MasterCard Inc. and Visa
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has ruled that health insurers do not have to share data, including information about how much they pay for medical claims, with state agencies. The 6-2 decision is seen as a blow to state government efforts to track health care costs within their jurisdictions. The case involved a Vermont law
WASHINGTON — The Affordable Care Act has survived its second Supreme Court challenge, with a divided court agreeing with the Obama administration that government subsidies that make health insurance affordable for millions of poor and middle-class Americans should be available nationwide. While there are more challenges to come, the organization representing the nation’s traditional drug
WASHINGTON — The fate of the Affordable Care Act rests with the Supreme Court. The court this month heard arguments in a case that the Obama administration says could gut the law. It will decide whether some 7 million low- and middle-income people in about three-dozen states will continue to receive subsidies under the law
WASHINGTON — Trade groups representing many of the nation’s largest retailers expressed frustration after the Supreme Court on January 20 declined to take up their challenge to the Federal Reserve’s hotly debated rules for “swipe fees” assessed on credit card and debit card transactions. Retailers and other businesses pay the fees to banks and other financial
