Supporting Health Plan Oversight: Consumer Organization Directory for State Regulators

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In the wake of formal complaints that insurers are marketing health plans with discriminatory benefit designs, state insurance regulators are under increasing pressure to subject these plans to greater scrutiny. But with limited resources and manpower, states are feeling squeezed. As part of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project to support states with Affordable Care Act implementation, CHIR researchers Kayla Connor and Sally McCarty created a directory of consumer organizations willing to partner with states to conduct plan analyses.

Highlights on the FFM Approach for 2016 Open Enrollment

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Hard to believe, but open enrollment for 2016 coverage is just four months away. As we get closer to the start of OE 2016 – November 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016 – CHIR’s Sandy Ahn highlights some of the FFM’s approach to redeterminations and re-enrollments.

CHIR Expert Sabrina Corlette Testifies before U.S. Senate Roundtable on Small Business Health Care

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On July 7 the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee held a roundtable discussion about challenges and opportunities facing the small business health insurance market. CHIR Senior Research Fellow Sabrina Corlette was invited to join the conversation about the SHOP marketplaces, self-funded plans, the change in the definition of the small group market, and more.

Meeting Sustainability Challenges: A Useful Example for Insurance Regulators

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State insurance regulators face the challenge of sustaining staffing levels achieved thanks to Affordable Care Act rate review grants. As these grant programs wind down, state officials get some helpful advice in Sally McCarty’s account of how she dealt with a similar challenge when she was Indiana’s insurance commissioner.

CHIR Wishes Sally McCarty Well in Retirement

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The faculty and staff of CHIR wish a fond farewell to their retiring colleague, Sally McCarty. Sally is leaving CHIR on a high note, having had a successful career as an academic expert, state and federal insurance regulator, and tireless advocate for consumers.

New Georgetown Report on State Approaches to Protecting Consumers from the Unexpected Charges of Balance Billing

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A new report from Georgetown University researchers examines the phenomenon of surprise bills for out-of-network medical services, often called “balance billing.” These unexpected charges can often be significant and cause great stress for patients. Several states have implemented consumer protections, but they take different approaches with varying effectiveness. Jack Hoadley provides the highlights.

Not One, Not Two but Three New Resources from CHIR: Small Business Health Plans in a Post-ACA World

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There’s been some renewed attention to the status and future of the small business health insurance market, particularly as an Affordable Care Act reform scheduled to go into effect in 2016 could cause some disruption. Last week CHIR researchers contributed to three great new resources to help policymakers and others understand changes in the market and some of the challenges ahead.

State Decisions on Allowing Mid-Sized Employers to Delay a Move to the Small-Group Insurance Market

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Beginning in 2016, the Affordable Care Act requires states to change the definition of “small employer” from one with up to 50 employees to up to 100 employees. Such a change could affect health insurance coverage and prices for small businesses and their workers. However, many states are taking advantage of a transition period offered by the Obama Administration that would delay this change. Ashley Williams and Sabrina Corlette, in their latest blog post for the Commonwealth Fund, report on the results of a 50-state survey and the implications for the small group insurance market.

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.