A Mixed Bag for States: The Proposed 2021 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters

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The Trump administration’s proposed rule governing the Affordable Care Act insurance markets for 2021 has been published, and comments are due from the public by March 2, 2020. In her latest article for the State Health & Value Strategies program, CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette provides a detailed overview of changes proposed in the rule, with a focus on the implications for state departments of insurance and the health insurance marketplaces.

January Research Round Up: What We’re Reading

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To kick off 2020, CHIR’s Olivia Hoppe reviews studies on out-of-network billing from hospital-based physicians, the Affordable Care Act’s effect on racial and ethnic access disparities, health care market consolidation, and 2020 marketplace premiums and insurer participation.

Payer-Provider Contract Disputes Dominate Headlines in 2019, With No Signs of Slowing Down

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For several years, we at CHIR have tracked health insurance industry trends by monitoring trade and mass media, Wall Street analyses, earnings, and other reports. In 2019, we observed an increase in reporting on contract disputes between health insurers and providers. These discussions are becoming more contentious as insurers face mounting pressure to rein in health care costs while ensuring consumers’ access to providers. CHIR’s Emily Curran digs into what’s behind the trend and what it means for patients.

The Texas Two-Step: Implementation of State Balance Billing Law Reveals Gaps in Consumer Protections

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In Congress and state legislatures across the country, policymakers are debating fixes to surprise medical bills. The federal government has yet to enact comprehensive reforms, but a number of states have taken steps to protect consumers. One such state is Texas, which last year enacted a new law holding consumers harmless in situations that commonly lead to surprise medical bills. However, the state’s new protections were almost gutted due to an implementation loophole, a cautionary tale for federal and state policymakers. CHIR’s Rachel Schwab takes a look at what happened in Texas.

So, You’ve Got Health Insurance. What Now? Frequently Asked Questions on Post-Enrollment Issues

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Open Enrollment ended in most states on December 15, 2019. In the remaining states, Open Enrollment ends this month. For the majority of Americans who enrolled in health insurance before the December 15 deadline and paid their first premium, insurance should now be kicking in. We’ve collected a series of frequently asked questions from our Navigator Resource Guide on post-enrollment issues to help consumers navigate their first few months of having a new insurance plan.

Department of Transportation Hosts the Inaugural Meeting of Committee to Advise on Air Ambulance Billing Issues

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On January 15th and 16th, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation held the inaugural Air Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory Committee meeting. Established by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Committee is tasked with reviewing “options to improve the disclosure of charges and fees for air medical services, better inform consumers of insurance options for such services, and protect consumers from balance billing.” CHIR’s Maanasa Kona discusses some of the key takeaways from the meeting.

Parity in Practice? Examining Requirements and Enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

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Last fall, the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance documented that the UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company had committed several violations of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). Other states are also increasing their oversight efforts. However, over ten years after the law was enacted, federal and state insurance regulators are still working to insure consumers have the protections promised under the law. CHIR’s Madeline O’Brien explains what MHPAEA is, how it is enforced, and recent CHIR efforts to support effective oversight.

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.