Category: Health reform
Will it Fly? Wyoming Attempts End Run Around High Air Ambulance Prices
Air ambulance charges are a significant source of surprise out-of-network bills for many patients, with charges running into 5 figures. States have been frustrated in their efforts to protect consumers in this context due to a federal law preempting regulation of air carrier prices, including air ambulances. However, the state of Wyoming may have hit on a unique solution – effectively making air ambulance a public utility. Will it work? CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette takes a look.
Federal Rule Creating New Health Coverage Option for Employers Could Destabilize the Individual Market
The Trump administration recently published final rules expanding employers’ use of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) for employees to purchase individual market insurance. CHIR’s JoAnn Volk assesses the final rule and its implications for employers, employees, and the individual market in an updated post for the Commonwealth Fund’s To The Point blog.
Successfully Splitting the Baby: Design Considerations for Federal Balance Billing Legislation
The U.S. Congress is advancing legislation to protect patients from surprise medical bills. Yet consensus on how to resolve payment disputes between providers and health plans has been difficult to reach. In their latest post for the Health Affairs Blog, Sabrina Corlette, Jack Hoadley, and Kevin Lucia break down different policy approaches, their pros and cons, and how recent state action could suggest a path forward.
New Trump Executive Order Could Expand Enrollment in Health Care Sharing Ministries, Direct Primary Care Arrangements
A recent Executive Order from President Trump calls on the U.S. Department of Treasury to allow taxpayers to take a deduction for costs related to membership in a Health Care Sharing Ministry or Direct Primary Care Arrangement. We take a look at what these arrangements are and what the EO could mean for consumers.
Can States Fill the Gap if the Courts Overturn Preexisting-Condition Protections?
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to hear arguments in litigation over the future of the Affordable Care Act the week of July 8, 2019. If the plaintiffs prevail, millions could lose insurance coverage and millions more will lose preexisting condition protections. In their latest post for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette and Emily Curran document state-level efforts to preserve the ACA’s insurance market reforms.
Most Stakeholders Oppose Expanding the Sale of Coverage Across State Lines: Reactions to HHS’ Request for Comments
The Trump administration recently asked the public to submit input on policies that would encourage the sale of insurance across state lines, including through “health care choice compacts.” CHIR’s Emily Curran reviewed comments submitted by consumer advocates, insurers, and states and summarizes them here.
Protecting People with Preexisting Conditions Requires More Than a Piecemeal Approach: An Assessment of a Louisiana Bill to Codify Some, But Not All, ACA Protections
Several state legislatures are considering bills to re-instate the Affordable Care Act’s preexisting condition protections in the event a federal court invalidates the law in Texas v. Azar. While no state can fully protect consumers from the fallout of a bad court decision, attempts to “bake in” the preexisting protections shouldn’t leave large loopholes for insurance companies to exploit. CHIR experts examine a Louisiana bill that would codify some, but not all, of the ACA’s insurance reforms.
New York’s Law to Protect People from Surprise Balance Bills is Working as Intended, but Gaps Remain
New York’s 2014 law to protect consumers from surprise out-of-network medical bills has been touted as a model for other states and even potential federal legislation. In their latest report for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, CHIR experts Sabrina Corlette and Olivia Hoppe share findings from a case study of how New York’s law has affected patients, providers, and insurers, 5 years post-enactment.
Federal Proposal Creating New HRAs for Employers Creates Risks for Employees, the Individual Market
The Trump administration is expected to soon publish a final rule to expand employers’ use of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) for employees to purchase individual market insurance. In her latest piece for the Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, CHIR’s JoAnn Volk assesses the proposed changes and their implications for employers, employees, and state insurance markets.