Author Archive: Maanasa Kona

State Options for Making Hospital Financial Assistance Programs More Accessible

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According to recent estimates, almost 100 million people have debt because of medical or dental bills. To mitigate this problem, nineteen states and the District of Columbia require hospitals to provide financial assistance to low-income populations, but the process of applying for financial assistance is often cumbersome and inaccessible. In a recent post for the Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, CHIR’s Maanasa Kona discusses how some states have made the financial assistance application process easier for their residents.

The Impact of Unions on Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance

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In just the first eight months of 2023, over 323,000 workers engaged in a labor action against their employers. Unions have been demanding better wages, protections, and benefits—including better health plans. CHIR’s Maanasa Kona takes a look at the role of unions in securing affordable health coverage for workers, including the innovative strategies they’ve used to reduce the unsustainable growth in health system costs.

New Federal Rules Seek To Strengthen Mental Health Parity

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The comment period recently ended for the Biden administration’s proposed a rule to bolster enforcement of federal mental health parity requirements and improve access to crucial services. In a post for Health Affairs Forefront, Maanasa Kona explains what’s in the proposed rule.

The Biden Administration Takes Aim At Medical Financing Products

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This month, the Biden administration issued a Request for Information (RFI) on “the scope, prevalence, terms, and impacts” of medical credit cards and other high-cost medical financing products. In a post for Health Affair’s Forefront, CHIR’s Maanasa Kona explains the RFI and outlines some of the risks these products pose for patients.

Understanding the Role of Private Equity in the Health Care Sector

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As private equity involvement in the health care industry increases, policymakers and other stakeholders are sounding the alarm and calling for better regulation to control costs and protect patients. CHIR’s Maanasa Kona takes a look at the role of private equity in the health care sector and how it impacts consumers.

New Data Show Medical Debt Disproportionately Affects the Most Vulnerable Populations

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Unpaid medical bills are among the largest contributors to personal debt in the United States. Evidence indicates that medical debt disproportionately affects people of color and individuals with lower incomes. CHIR’s Maanasa Kona reviews new data from the Census Bureau and state court records that demonstrate the disparate impact of medical debt on vulnerable populations, and explores what policymakers can do to protect consumers from aggressive debt collection.

Adoption of Value-Based, Alternative Payment Models: Where Are We Today and Where Do We Go from Here?

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Employer-sponsored health insurance costs had their highest annual increase since 2010 last year, and some experts are projecting additional health spending increases in 2022. Research has found that provider prices are the leading cause of high and rising health care spending in the US, and many policy experts have advocated for moving towards value-based, alternative payment models (APMs). CHIR’s Maanasa Kona takes a look how APMs have performed thus far and what the future may hold.

Figuring out if COBRA Coverage is Right for You

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By the end of May, employers must notify eligible employees and former employees about the COBRA subsidies under the American Rescue Plan. Many of these folks may also be eligible for enhanced premium tax credits through the Affordable Care Act. CHIR’s Maanasa Kona walks through the different coverage options available.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the individual blog post authors and do not represent the views of Georgetown University, the Center on Health Insurance Reforms, any organization that the author is affiliated with, or the opinions of any other author who publishes on this blog.