CHIR Welcomes New Faculty, Rachel Swindle
We’re delighted to welcome to the CHIR team our newest colleague, Research Fellow Rachel Swindle, M.P.P.
Author Archive: CHIR Faculty
State “Easy Enrollment” Programs Gain Momentum, Lay Groundwork for Additional Efforts to Expand Coverage
The American Rescue Plan made health insurance more affordable, but covering the 30 million remaining uninsured will require innovative efforts to broadcast and facilitate enrollment in subsidized insurance. To that end, several states, following an inaugural effort in Maryland, have proposed or are implementing a new avenue to enrollment through the tax-filing process. In a new post for the Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, CHIR experts take a look at states that are operating or implementing “Easy Enrollment” programs, and how they may offer a bridge to more ambitious initiatives like automatic enrollment.
Restraining Balance Billing by Air Ambulance Providers: CHIR Keeps Up with Federal Advisory Committee and Regulatory Actions
Air ambulances are the source of some of the largest unexpected medical bills faced by consumers. Before it passed the No Surprises Act, Congress created an advisory committee on air ambulance billing practices. CHIR’s Madeline O’Brien and JoAnn Volk take a look at this committee’s work and what it might mean for future federal policymaking.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Recent Federal Policy on Small Business Health Insurance
CHIR researchers have teamed up once again with the Urban Institute to assess how federal policy is affecting the market for small business health insurance. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic was front-of-mind, but so too are coverage options exempt from the Affordable Care Act and newly available incentives to shift employees to the individual market.
State Efforts to Standardize Marketplace Health Plans Show How the Biden Administration Could Improve Value and Reduce Disparities
The federal government is moving forward with standardized benefit designs via HealthCare.gov, following in the footsteps of several states. In their latest post for the Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, CHIR experts Justin Giovannelli, Rachel Schwab, and Kevin Lucia assess the experience of these states with standardized plans and draw lessons for federal officials.
State Public Option–Style Laws: What Policymakers Need to Know
In recent months, Washington, Colorado, and Nevada, have enacted public option-style laws aimed at containing costs and increasing access to health insurance coverage. In a new post for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR experts Christine Monahan, Kevin Lucia, and Justin Giovannelli examine these efforts and their implications for federal and state policymakers.
Putting Surprise Billing Protections into Practice: Biden Administration Releases First Set of Regulations
The Biden administration has issued the first in a series of rules to implement the No Surprises Act, a sweeping law to protect patients from unexpected out-of-network medical bills. In their latest post for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR’s Jack Hoadley and Kevin Lucia review the new rules and their implications for consumers.
Banning Surprise Bills: Biden Administration Issues First Rule On The No Surprises Act
When Congress enacted the “No Surprises Act” last year to ban unexpected out-of-network medical bills, it was left to the Biden administration to implement these historic consumer protections. CHIR’s Katie Keith, Jack Hoadley, and Kevin Lucia provide a detailed summary of the first round of federal rules flowing from this new law in their latest post for the Health Affairs blog.
New Georgetown Report: States’ Actions to Expand Telemedicine Access During COVID-19 and Future Policy Considerations
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many states temporarily lowered barriers to using telemedicine for health care services. Subsequently, a number of states have taken action to make those changes permanent. In their latest report for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR experts examine this emerging body of state law and its potential impact on the use of health care services, costs, and outcomes.
A Great Day for the Affordable Care Act – and the Millions of Americans who Benefit from It
It’s three strikes you’re out for opponents of the Affordable Care Act. For the third – and hopefully final – time, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the latest legal challenge. We at CHIR celebrate this victory for the American people, including the millions that rely on the ACA for coverage.