Hands Off My Birth Control!
This was the rallying cry after new interim final rules were released expanding ACA contraceptive coverage requirement exemptions. The new rules would allow any company to deny coverage for contraceptive services to its female employees based on religious grounds. Additionally, certain types of organizations would also be able to deny this coverage on moral grounds. Requiring...
Puerto Rico’s Medicaid Block Grant Insufficient in Emergencies
Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria last month. During a debt crisis, they also faced Zika virus last year. It became clear during that public health emergency that Puerto Rico’s Medicaid block grant was insufficient and did not have enough flexibility to help address the crisis. Now it is worse. “Treating the health needs...
It’s (Almost) All Health Care, All the Time in Congress
The Administrations action to stop CSRs may light a fire under Congress to authorize the CSRs and may even help to stabilize the individual market. But Congress also has important programs to reauthorize, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Community Health Center (CHC) Fund. These are critical safety net programs and must...
What Does the Public Think?
The Kaiser Family Foundation October Health Tracking Poll finds public support for stabilizing the ACA marketplace with guaranteed CSR payments. Most importantly, 71% of respondents would prefer to see the Trump Administration make the ACA work. A recent poll shows that Jimmy Kimmel won the health care debate in the court of public opinion. Kimmel...
“Listen All of Y’all It’s a Sabotage”
The words of the Beastie Boys “Sabotage” have been running through (some of) our heads recently as the President takes more swipes at the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He is using all his tools to sabotage the Exchanges. The changes to open enrollment were bad – the shortened open enrollment period, reduced outreach and enrollment...
No More Insurance Company “Bailouts”
The President announced that the government would stop paying cost-sharing subsidies immediately. The future of cost sharing reductions (CSRs) has been murky, as detailed back in August. Unless Congress intervenes and strikes a bipartisan deal to extend the CSRs – and soon – the result will be a national average 20% premium increase for Exchange...
Distracted Senate Drops the Ball on Important Reauthorizations – Significant Impacts on Low-Income Families Possible
Despite an announcement of a deal on Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) reauthorization a few weeks ago, the Senate took no action when they quickly shifted attention to Graham-Cassidy. The program’s authorization expired last Saturday. Nine million children are covered by CHIP, with over 60,000 children covered in Washington State annually. Contradicting prior reports, Washington...
Changes in Health & Human Services Administrative Leadership and Direction
The Trump Administration lost again with the scandal and subsequent resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary, Tom Price. Rumors are rampant about his potential replacement. Unfortunately, while Price is out, his agency’s draft strategic plan remains – and notably absent is any reference to continued implementation and support of the Affordable Care Act’s coverage...
Washington State’s Exchange Plans Certified – Rates TBD
Last week, amid uncertainty about the future of the ACA, Washington State’s Health Benefit Exchange Board certified health and dental plans for 2018. Over 180,000 individuals who purchase coverage through the Exchange will see an average 24 percent increase over this year’s rates, though many will qualify for federally-provided tax credits that help lower the cost...
What We’re Reading and Listening to This Week
Atul Gawande asks people in his hometown of Athens, GA – is health care a right? A public health status link to last November’s election results “What the Health?” Podcast: Repeal and Replace is Dead. What Now?