| |  | The Lead Brief | Congress is no closer to a deal on how to handle the expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, and divisions over whether the law adequately protects federal dollars from being used to fund abortions continues to loom large over the debate. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services weighed in on the issue, last week issuing a FAQ affirming that ACA plans may not use federal cash on abortion services — incidentally addressing a key demand from some Republicans. Policymakers and the influential antiabortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America — which has been briefing lawmakers on the issue — have been calling to include so-called Hyde Amendment language in any proposal to extend the enhanced ACA subsidies. Susan B. Anthony is threatening to give members poor rankings on its electoral scorecard should they vote for any policy without it. Supporters argue it’s necessary to prevent taxpayer funding for abortions, while Democrats opposing the language say that the ACA already requires separate accounts for abortion services to ensure federal funds aren’t used. The group argues that having segregated accounts isn’t good enough, calling it a “gimmick” that’s “insufficient to prevent taxpayer-funded abortions.” “Subsidies still flow to abortion-covering plans through premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions,” a spokesperson for Susan B. Anthony List Pro-Life America said in a statement when asked about the recent agency clarification. “When abortion coverage is included in Obamacare plans, Americans are forced to subsidize the entire plan.” READ MORE: Riley Beggin and Theodoric Meyer wrote about the issue for The Post last month: “Fight over abortion could doom Congress’s health care plans.” “CMS regularly issues technical assistance, guidance, and FAQs to help stakeholders understand and comply with existing statutory and regulatory requirements,” a CMS spokeswoman said in response to an inquiry about the timing of the release. “The FAQs referenced do not reflect new policy, rather, they are part of CMS’ ongoing and routine efforts to provide clarity and support to states, in this case Maryland, for the accurate implementation of longstanding requirements in the individual market.” Why it matters: A dozen states, including Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and New York, require ACA plans to provide abortion coverage. There is concern that inserting additional Hyde Amendment language could effectively shut out millions of people from the individual health insurance marketplaces in these states. Last week, Maryland’s attorney general joined a letter signed by 20 other states, urging congressional leaders not to impose abortion restrictions in legislation extending the enhanced ACA subsidies. → Today is the deadline for people to sign up for individual marketplace plans if they want their health coverage to either kick in or continue in January. Open enrollment in most states ends on Jan. 15 for coverage that begins in February. The issue of the enhanced premium subsidies has split the GOP caucus. Republicans whose districts contain a large number of ACA enrollees have been trying to work out ways to extend them with some reforms, while more conservative Republican lawmakers want them to expire, viewing any extension as a stamp of approval on Obamacare. What’s next: House Republican leadership wants to vote on a health package this week — including a separate vote on whether to attach an amendment from moderate Republicans to provide a limited extension of the enhanced subsidies with eligibility caps and other reforms before they expire Dec. 31. The House, meanwhile, is only scheduled to be in session through Thursday before breaking until 2026. RELATED READ FROM WAPO: “Nearly 1 in 4 Americans say the U.S. health care system is in crisis,” Gaya Gupta writes of a recent Gallup poll. | 
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