Implementing the Affordable Care Act

State Efforts to Standardize Marketplace Health Plans Show How the Biden Administration Could Improve Value and Reduce Disparities

Posted July 29, 2021 by CHIR Faculty

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.

States Tackle High Out of Pocket Costs for Insulin but Lack Tools to Bring Rx Prices Down

Posted July 26, 2021 by Megan Houston

As Congress considers a variety of proposals to address prescription drug prices, there is a growing trend of states capping the out of pocket costs for insulin. CHIR’s Megan Houston considers the impact of insulin copay caps and how states are limited in their efforts to tackle prescription drug prices.

June Research Roundup: What We’re Reading

Posted July 14, 2021 by Nia Gooding

For June’s monthly roundup of health policy research, Nia Gooding reviewed studies on ground ambulance rides and surprise medical bills, the ways health plan pricing mechanisms affect health disparities, and the impact of using auto-enrollment to achieve universal coverage.

If You Lost Your Job, You May be Newly Eligible for a Lower Cost Health Plan

Posted July 14, 2021 by Megan Houston

Starting July 1, those who faced a job loss in 2021 may be eligible for extra financial assistance on the marketplace. CHIR’s Megan Houston breaks down this provision of the American Rescue Plan and how consumers can access these benefits.

Round III of the 2022 Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters: Implications for States

Posted July 7, 2021 by

The Biden administration has released its first major set of proposed rules governing the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. In her latest Expert Perspective for the State Health & Value Strategies project, CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette assesses the implications for state-based marketplaces and insurance regulators.

“As if COVID-19 Did Not Exist”: Health Plans Prepare for 2022 in Early Rate Filings

Posted July 6, 2021 by

Several states ask for – and publicly post – health insurers’ proposed 2022 premium rates in May and June. These early rate filings can provide hints about how insurers are responding to market trends, policy changes, and emerging drivers of health care costs. CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette took a deep dive into insurers’ actuarial memos to find out how they’re thinking about health care spending after COVID-19, the American Rescue Plan, and more.

A Fixer Upper: Washington State Enacts Legislation to Boost its Public Option

Posted June 24, 2021 by Rachel Schwab

Washington State enacted a first-of-its-kind public option, with the state-procured plans available beginning in 2020. But the inaugural year yielded underwhelming results, with fewer than 2,000 people enrolled in the plans and premiums that were on average higher than the prior year’s rates. After identifying several barriers to the program’s success, Washington enacted legislation this year to bolster the state’s public option.

A Great Day for the Affordable Care Act – and the Millions of Americans who Benefit from It

Posted June 17, 2021 by CHIR Faculty

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.

New Georgetown CHIR Report: Opportunities for State Employee Health Plans to Drive Improvements in Affordability

Posted June 15, 2021 by Nia Gooding

A new report from Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms presents first-ever findings on the structure and governance of various state employee health plan agencies, the generosity of their plans, and cost containment initiatives each has undertaken in the last three years.

May Research Roundup: What We’re Reading

Posted June 4, 2021 by Nia Gooding

With another month comes a new crop of health policy research. This May, Nia Gooding reviewed studies on the demographic makeup of the uninsured population eligible for marketplace coverage, the association between hospital-physician integration and unnecessary patient referrals, and rationales for replacing silver loading for Marketplace coverage.