The U.S. House of Representatives has weighed in on a high-stakes legal battle over whether the federal government owes health insurance companies billions of dollars under an Affordable Care Act program designed to encourage participation in the public exchanges. It isn't siding with the insurers.

The governmental body on Monday asked for permission from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to file an amicus brief urging affirmance of a lower court ruling in a case involving failed Chicago-based health insurer Land of Lincoln Mutual Health Insurance Co.

Land of Lincoln Mutual, a nonprofit, member-owned Consumer Operated and Oriented Program carrier, last June accused the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of failing to make good on its obligation to pay more than $75 million under the ACA risk corridors program.