Implementing the Affordable Care Act

Proposed Federal Changes to Short-Term Health Coverage Leave Regulation to States

Posted February 21, 2018 by CHIR Faculty

The Trump administration issued proposed rules on February 20, 2018 that rescind Obama-era restrictions on short-term, limited duration insurance products. This action, if finalized, would leave regulation of short-term health plans almost entirely to states. In their latest post for The Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, CHIR experts Dania Palanker, Kevin Lucia, Sabrina Corlette and Maanasa Kona review current short-term plan standards in a sampling of 10 diverse states.

If It Talks Like Insurance and Walks Like Insurance: The Curious Case of Direct Primary Care Arrangements

Posted February 20, 2018 by Maanasa Kona

For decades, elite “concierge” practices have been providing easy access to primary care in return for several thousand dollars in retainer fees. Recently we’ve seen the emergence of more affordable versions of this arrangement, with monthly fees that cost far less than the average ACA marketplace plan premium. At first blush, these arrangements, frequently called “direct primary care arrangements” (DPCAs), might seem like a way to ensure access to health care services in the face of rising health insurance premiums. CHIR’s Maanasa Kona explains why this is not always the case.

Stepping in When States Don’t Step Up: First “State-Based” Plans Filed in Idaho, Violating the Affordable Care Act

Posted February 16, 2018 by Rachel Schwab

Last week Blue Cross of Idaho filed the first “state-based” health plans, products that don’t comply with the Affordable Care Act’s requirements for coverage offered on the individual market. When a state can’t or won’t enforce federal law, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is supposed to step in. CHIR’s Rachel Schwab outlines HHS’ authority to protect the rule of law and ensure that Idaho consumers continue to receive the benefits they are promised under the ACA.

New Funding Opportunity Allows States to Bolster Consumer Protections

Posted February 12, 2018 by Rachel Schwab

On February 5th, the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) put out a Notice of Funding Opportunity. The federal agency anticipates that $8.1 million is available for state initiatives focused on insurers’ compliance with federal market reforms and consumer protections, giving states the opportunity to improve their oversight efforts. With the February 26th deadline for letters of intent just around the corner, CHIR’s Rachel Schwab provides an overview of the new grant program.

January 2018 Research Round Up: What We’re Reading

Posted February 6, 2018 by Olivia Hoppe

In the past month, new research highlights the regressive effects of high health plan cost sharing. In our first post for CHIRblog’s new What We’re Reading series, CHIR’s Olivia Hoppe dives into some recent health insurance and financial equity research.

Proposed Federal Changes to Short-Term Health Coverage Leave Regulation to States

Posted February 5, 2018 by CHIR Faculty

The Trump administration is expected to reverse federal limitations on short-term insurance, which does not have to comply with Affordable Care Act rules like preexisting condition protections. In their latest post for the Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, CHIR’s Dania Palanker, Kevin Lucia, Sabrina Corlette, and Maanasa Kona examine how ten states currently regulate the short-term insurance market.

Idaho Goes Rogue: State Authorizes Sale of Health Plans that Violate the Affordable Care Act

Posted February 1, 2018 by

Idaho has just published rules for new, “state-based” health plans that are exempt from many of the Affordable Care Act protections for people with pre-existing conditions. CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette examines the legality of Idaho’s action, as well as its potential impact on consumers and the health insurance marketplace.

Association Health Plan Proposed Rule: Summary and Implications for States

Posted January 23, 2018 by CHIR Faculty

In a recent brief for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health & Value Strategies program, CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette provides an overview of proposed federal rules expanding the availability of association health plans and assesses the implications for state insurance regulation.

The Future of the Affordable Care Act under President Trump: Stakeholders Respond to Proposed 2019 Marketplace Rule. Part III: States

Posted January 22, 2018 by Dania Palanker

The final 2019 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters has been submitted to the White House for review. The initial proposal included a number of changes to the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits, marketplace operations, and other consumer protections. In this final post in a series of blogs analyzing public comments on the proposed rules, CHIR’s Dania Palanker examines responses from Departments of Insurance and state-based marketplaces to better understand who the rule could impact.

The Future of the Affordable Care Act under President Trump: Stakeholders Respond to Proposed 2019 Marketplace Rule. Part II: Consumer Advocates

Posted January 19, 2018 by Rachel Schwab

The final 2019 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters has been submitted to the White House for review. The initial proposal included a number of changes to the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits, marketplace operations, and other consumer protections. In this second post in a series of blogs analyzing public comments on the proposed rules, CHIR’s Rachel Schwab examines responses from a range of consumer advocacy groups to better understand who the rule could impact.