“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?
Alert to Health Advocates about Terminations for “Residency”:
Recently 18,000 Medicaid recipients were terminated for not having Washington State residency after an address database check through LexisNexis. Some people terminated actually may be residents but did not respond adequately to notices. People who are homeless are most likely to be in this situation. The linked information explains the problem, how clients can address...
Threading the Needle: Bipartisan Compromise on Market Stabilization?
Congress returned to DC last week and are once again tackling health care. The Senate Health Committee started hearings about stabilizing the health insurance market. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray seek to craft bipartisan legislation, but Murray acknowledges that “threading the needle will not be easy.” The committee heard from insurance commissioners, including...
Competing Proposals – Repeal and Replace or Medicare for All?
Yesterday, two contrasting health care reform proposals were released. The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson plan appears to have similar effects to the recent Republican ACA repeal proposals and would strip coverage from millions, gut the Medicaid program, and undermine the ACA’s most popular consumer protections. Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) released a Medicare for All proposal that would...
Federal Slashing of Outreach and Enrollment Does Not Affect Washington
The Administration announced a 72% cut to the outreach and enrollment budget for the upcoming Open Enrollment period. This cut does not directly affect Washington State and other state-based Exchanges that are required to be self-sustaining, the reduced national publicity means our Exchange should increase its own communications for this fall’s open enrollment season. Consumer...