Politicians on both the left and right are eager to debate Medicare for All, even as a conflict over the last big U.S. health revamp still smolders. A flare-up is imminent next Tuesday, when a federal appeals court in New Orleans is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a case that pits Republican state attorneys general against their Democratic counterparts and threatens, yet again, to invalidate the Affordable Care Act.
It's a reminder that even though the next health-care battle has been joined, the parties are still clashing over a law Republicans failed to repeal and that has become more popular with voters over time. The suit had been viewed as a longshot attack on Obamacare, but the odds got a little shorter recently. In March, Trump's Justice Department switched from defending elements of the law—including its protections for people with pre-existing conditions—to siding with Texas and other GOP-led states seeking to strike it down entirely. Last week, the court questioned whether Democratic-led states have standing to defend Obamacare. ACA policies are well-entrenched in America's $3.5 billion health-care industry. What happens in the Fifth Circuit could end up being far more consequential than the rhetorical jousting over Medicare for All.—John Tozzi Here's what else we're watching:Pumped up. Amarin shares surged after the maker of a promising new heart pill called Vascepa said sales were stronger than expected and that the company will double the size of its sales force. Board broadside. Massachusetts senator and Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren called on former FDA chief Scott Gottlieb to quit Pfizer's board, saying his recent appointment "smacks of corruption." ICYMI: Bloomberg wrote last week about a big biotech score by a team of brothers and took a closer look at Democrats' Medicare for All positions after two nights of debates. Also, Congress has questions for the FDA. Note to readers: The Prognosis newsletter was sent to you a day early this week ahead of the Independence Day holiday in the U.S. It will resume its regular Thursday publication schedule next week. Listen up. Season two of our podcast is all about what happens when we hand over our health data to companies and governments. Download it here on Apple devices, and here on Android.  Got this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up to get it every Thursday by clicking here.
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