State employee health plans are uniquely situated to tackle the health care cost growth that is reducing health care affordability. CHIR’s 50-state survey of state employee health plans has key findings about their cost containment strategies, and the implications for other employer purchasers.
The rising costs of employer-sponsored insurance are placing financial pressure on employers and workers alike. In a four-part series, CHIR experts have reviewed the evidence supporting a range of policy options to improve the affordability this critical coverage option. This, their fourth and final post in the series, focuses on health care price transparency.
Happy Pride Month from CHIR! Each June, Pride is an opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and honor the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights—including in health care access. CHIR’s Emma Walsh-Alker examines the systemic barriers to health care coverage that the LGBTQ+ community faces, and highlights a few key coverage and access issues that continue to impact LGBTQ+ individuals with private health insurance.
The U.S. House of Representatives Education and Workforce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on health care costs, competition, and transparency. CHIR’s Christine Monahan testified before the committee regarding consolidation in health care markets.
April showers bring May flowers, and May was abloom with health policy research. Last month, we read about the impact of ending pandemic-related coverage policies, consumer awareness of the resumption of Medicaid renewals, and approaches to tackling rising health care costs in commercial health insurance markets.
The U.S. House of Representatives’ Education & Workforce Committee is poised to advance H.R. 2813, legislation that would expand self-funded employer plans in the small group market and preempt state insurance regulation. CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette testified about the bill at an April 26, 2023 committee hearing.
CHIR is thrilled to welcome Hanan Rakine, M.P.H., as our newest faculty member.
On May 15, 2023, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily paused the Braidwood v. Becerra ruling by a federal district court. That court’s decision would have blocked federal enforcement of the ACA’s requirements that insurers cover and waive cost-sharing for preventive services. In their latest post for the State Health & Value Strategies project, Sabrina Corlette and Tara Straw discuss who is impacted, and how states can help protect their residents.
The Affordable Care Act established health insurance Marketplaces to facilitate enrollment in comprehensive and affordable health insurance. Most states rely on the federal government to run their Marketplace, but recently, several states have expressed interest in taking over Marketplace operations. With Marketplace enrollment at an all-time high, and millions more people poised to transition from Medicaid to commercial insurance, the role of the Marketplaces as a coverage safety net has never been more pivotal. But federal rules impose few standards for states launching and maintaining a Marketplace. It may be time for the federal government to establish a stronger federal floor.
The transparency of health care prices can help policymakers, employers, and researchers identify the drivers of cost growth and target solutions. In her latest post for Health Affairs’ Forefront, Sabrina Corlette identifies how states can play a role making health plan price data more accessible and usable.
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.
