CHIR Faculty

States Take Action on Health Care Sharing Ministries, But More Could Be Done to Protect Consumers

Posted February 24, 2020 by CHIR Faculty

In the last year, state regulators have stepped up their scrutiny of health care sharing ministries to warn consumers of their limits. In a new post for the Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, CHIR’s JoAnn Volk and Justin Giovannelli look at recent state action to protect consumers from the risks of health care sharing ministries and map out other options for states to step up their scrutiny of these arrangements.

Update on Federal Surprise Billing Legislation: New Bills Contain Key Differences

Posted February 21, 2020 by CHIR Faculty

Congressional leaders are racing to meet a self-imposed May deadline for passing legislation to protect consumers from surprise medical billing. In their latest post for the Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, Jack Hoadley, Beth Fuchs, and Kevin Lucia identify key similarities and differences among competing proposals, and provide a comprehensive side-by-side guide to the key committee bills.

The Public Option Plan is Popular, but State Efforts to Enact it Face Challenges

Posted January 30, 2020 by CHIR Faculty

New polling finds the public option plan is popular, but how are such proposals faring in the states? A new report from Georgetown CHIR assesses states’ efforts to enact public option plans and opportunities and challenges for future action.

New Resource for Consumer Advocates on Out-of-Network Payment Disputes in Balance Billing Legislation

Posted January 9, 2020 by CHIR Faculty

State lawmakers across the country are are gearing up for a new legislative session. Many will be considering state-level protections for consumers to prevent surprise out-of-network medical bills. Just as with the federal legislation, however, one of the key sticking points for state policymakers will be how to approach out-of-network provider reimbursement. To aid stakeholders in these efforts, Community Catalyst teamed up with CHIR experts to create a guide for its health insurance reform toolkit: The Advocate’s Guide to Addressing Out-Of-Network Payment in Surprise Balance Billing Legislation.

Our Top Ten Health Insurance Policy Issues to Watch in 2020

Posted January 6, 2020 by CHIR Faculty

CHIR is back from vacation and strapping in for a busy 2020. These are the top ten health insurance policy issues we’ll be watching – and writing about – in the year ahead.

Update on Federal Surprise Billing Legislation: Understanding a Flurry of New Proposals

Posted January 2, 2020 by CHIR Faculty

In their latest piece for the Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, Jack Hoadley, Beth Fuchs, and Kevin Lucia assess the end-of-year flurry of congressional proposals to protect consumers from surprise balance billing, as well as prospects for future compromise.

Protecting Patients from Air Ambulance Surprise Balance Bills – Where Are We Now?

Posted December 13, 2019 by CHIR Faculty

A recently released report by the Health Care Cost Institute finds that the average price of an air ambulance trip has increased significantly from 2008 to 2017, a Department of Transportation advisory commission is studying the industry’s billing practices, and legislation is pending in Congress to protect patients from surprise bills sent by air ambulance companies. CHIR’s Maanasa Kona and Sabrina Corlette provide an update on the recent activity.

Navigator Guide FAQ of the Week: What Does My Plan Cover?

Posted November 19, 2019 by CHIR Faculty

With Open Enrollment now underway, consumers are weighing their options for 2020 and trying to find the right plan that meets their health needs. As consumers make their decision, it is important for them to understand what they are buying and what coverage their plan provides. This week we answer four questions about marketplace plans’ coverage standards.

Can States Fill the Gap if the Federal Courts Overturn Preexisting Condition Protections?

Posted November 7, 2019 by CHIR Faculty

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule soon on the future of the Affordable Care Act in the Texas v. U.S. case. In their latest post for the Commonwealth Fund’s To The Point blog, CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette and Emily Curran evaluate whether states can protect their residents from the fallout, particularly for those with pre-existing conditions, and provide an update on the latest state efforts.

Will Sutter Health Settlement Dampen Provider Systems’ Anti-Competitive Tactics or Prompt More States to Take Action on Costs?

Posted November 5, 2019 by CHIR Faculty

On October 16, Sutter Health announced that it had reached a tentative agreement to settle the class-action lawsuit against it, which alleged that the system has used its market dominance to drive up the cost of care. Though Sutter Health denied all allegations, the plaintiffs argued that the system relies on three core tactics to maintain a competitive edge, including: all-or-nothing contracting, anti-incentive contract terms, and price secrecy contract terms. CHIR’s Emily Curran and Sabrina Corlette explain these tactics and recent findings on the impacts of provider consolidation.