New proposed rules about Association Health Plans were released early this month in response to a fall Executive Order. The rules redefine “employer” and relax the rules requiring a “bona fide” reason other than offering health insurance – which could allow for sidestepping of ACA consumer protections by altering premiums by gender, age and industry...
Category: News Posts
NoHLA Participates in Womxn Act on Seattle
On the second anniversary of the Women’s March, we participated in Womxn Act on Seattle, a series of trainings, lectures, panels, film screenings and food drives, combined with one of the state’s largest single-day regional voter registration and mobilization efforts in history. NoHLA was pleased to be hosted by Gethsemane Lutheran Church in downtown Seattle...
Medicaid Work Requirements: A New Trend for 2018?
The week before last, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a State Medicaid Director letter providing new guidance for Section 1115 waiver proposals that would impose work requirements (referred to as “community engagement”) in Medicaid as a condition of eligibility. This is a significant policy shift for Medicaid – but was not...
Weekend Government Shutdown Ends: Kids Health Renewed and Immigration Promised
The federal government was shut down last weekend. On Friday, most Senate Democrats and five Senate Republicans opposed another short-term spending bill. The House-passed bill would have extended the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years, but failed to address the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program or other immigration issues. The President...
Three Cheers for New Birth Control Requirements in WA State
Beginning this month, insurers must cover a 12-month supply of birth control pills at a time. This change came due to legislation passed last year to remove barriers for women.
Open Enrollment – Still Enrolling for February 1 Coverage!
Washington State continues its Open Enrollment period until next Monday, January 15, so there is still time for individuals and families to get coverage for the remainder of 2018. Over 230,000 individuals have already selected plans for January 1 coverage via Washington HealthPlanFinder – a 35% increase over January 2017. Open enrollment in the 39 states served by HealthCare.gov ended on...
Welcome 2018!
As the new year begins, we expect continued threats to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and other public health insurance programs, but there will also be action at the state level, including efforts to mitigate setbacks and move forward. We hope you will join us to protect health care...