affordable care act

Quality Over Quantity? New Medicaid Network Adequacy Rules Illuminate Disparities Among Insurance Program Standards

Posted September 16, 2016 by Rachel Schwab

Narrow network plans, or plans with a limited network of providers, present problems for consumers across the various coverage programs. In May, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the final rule setting network adequacy standards for Medicaid and CHIP managed care plans. The new rule requires states to set quantitative standards for network adequacy; but since these standards don’t apply uniformly to other federal programs, network adequacy – and access to essential health services – varies greatly for consumers based on what program they fall under.

Want to Know Whether Your Health Plan’s Network is Narrow or Broad? You’ll Need to Wait Another Year

Posted September 12, 2016 by

The Obama Administration has delayed a promised rollout of a new network size rating system on healthcare.gov. Sabrina Corlette takes a look at the proposed ratings, the reasons for delay, and what it all means for consumers.

A “Volatile Marketplace”: Second Quarter Earnings Calls Offer Glimpse of How Insurers Are Faring on ACA Marketplaces—and What 2017 Might Bring

Posted September 7, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

In a turbulent year for the Affordable Care Act, health insurers’ second-quarter earnings calls and financial filings can offer a glimpse of how they are faring on the ACA marketplaces and strategies for 2017. In their latest publication for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR experts Sabrina Corlette, Kevin Lucia and Emily Curran share key takeaways from these key insurance industry financial reports.

As Administration Reviews Comments on Short-Term Insurance Plans, Analysis Finds Gaps in Coverage

Posted August 22, 2016 by Dania Palanker

The Obama Administration is reviewing feedback on its proposed rule to clamp down on the sale of short-term health plans. If finalized, the rule could help stabilize the Affordable Care Act marketplaces – and help protect consumers from being duped into buying plans that don’t meet their health needs. CHIR’s Dania Palanker shares what she found in a review of what short-term plans actually cover, as well as the mix of industry responses to the Administration’s proposed regulation.

Stabilizing the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces: Lessons from Medicare

Posted August 16, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

In the late 1990s, Medicare officials faced decisions by insurers to cancel nearly half of their Medicare Advantage contracts. In a new issue brief for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Georgetown experts Jack Hoadley and Sabrina Corlette assess the policies and strategies adopted to manage instability in the Medicare Advantage and Part D markets and whether they can be used to stabilize the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Key takeaways from that issue brief are shared here.

The Proposed Update to the Premium Tax Credit Safe Harbor: A Solution in Search of a Problem?

Posted August 15, 2016 by JoAnn Volk

In the waning days of the Obama Administration, Affordable Care Act regulations continue to trickle out. A recent one from the Internal Revenue Service feels a little like a solution in search of a problem. JoAnn Volk takes a look.

New Commonwealth Fund Brief Examines Exclusions in Health Insurance Plans that Place Women’s Health at Risk

Posted August 11, 2016 by Dania Palanker

A new issue brief published by the Commonwealth Fund and authored by CHIR’s newest faculty member, Dania Palanker, examines exclusions in insurance policies sold on the ACA marketplaces and finds that several have a disproportionate impact on women, limiting their access to care. Dania shares some highlights.

State-Run SHOPs: An Update Three Years Post ACA Implementation

Posted July 29, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

Small-business owners face unique challenges covering their employees; to lower barriers and increase options, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). In a new blog published by The Commonwealth Fund, CHIR experts Emily Curran, Sabrina Corlette, and Kevin Lucia evaluate the current state of these marketplaces three years into implementation.

New Health Affairs Policy Brief Examines the Regulation of Health Plan Provider Networks

Posted July 28, 2016 by CHIR Faculty

Limited networks have become increasingly common on ACA marketplaces, comprising almost half of all offerings during the first two years of the exchanges. In a new policy brief for Health Affairs, CHIR experts Justin Giovannelli, Kevin Lucia, and Sabrina Corlette examine what the states and the federal government are doing to ensure that marketplace plan networks are adequate and transparent.

The Sky is Not Falling: CHIR Expert Kevin Lucia Talks Trends in Coverage and Affordability on the ACA Marketplaces

Posted July 21, 2016 by Rachel Schwab

On Friday, July 15, CHIR’s very own Kevin Lucia spoke at a briefing on ACA marketplaces put on by the Alliance for Health Reform. Mr. Lucia joined representatives from the Commonwealth Fund, the American Academy of Actuaries, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association to discuss the outlook for federally facilitated and state-based exchanges as the fourth open enrollment period approaches in November.