GOP To Take Up Bills Relaxing Rules Insurers Say Have Created Unbalanced Marketplace
While they scramble to dismantle and replace the health law, Republican lawmakers are taking a piecemeal approach to rolling back some regulations that insurers claim have driven up premiums. Advocates, however, say the rules protect customers and create better quality of coverage.
Modern Healthcare:
House Republicans Offer Bills To Stabilize The Individual Insurance Market
House Republicans have filed four separate bills intended to stabilize the individual insurance market while they pursue their strategy of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. The bills, to be discussed at an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing Thursday, address issues that insurers say have increased their costs and unbalanced the risk pool, thus driving up premiums and making the individual market a less viable business for them. But consumer advocates caution that these measures could make coverage and care less accessible and affordable for lower-income, older, and sicker people. (Meyer, 1/30)
In other health law repeal news —
The Associated Press:
Chair Says GOP Doesn't Want To Rush Health Care Overhaul
A leader of the Republican effort to revamp President Barack Obama's health care law says the message from GOP lawmakers at last week's private strategy session was for "a very deliberate, thoughtful approach." ... Texas GOP Rep. Kevin Brady chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. He says lawmakers told leaders: "Let's not rush. Let's get it right." (1/30)
Modern Healthcare:
Prevention Benefits At Risk With An Obamacare Repeal
The Affordable Care Act extended 100% coverage for a range of preventive healthcare services, including some types of cancer screening, to seniors on Medicare. That first-dollar coverage likely saved lives by increasing diagnoses of early-stage colorectal cancer by 8% among Medicare beneficiaries during the first three years it was in effect, a new study in Health Affairs reported. Now experts fear Republicans will eliminate the law's mandate for full coverage of recommended preventive services in taxpayer-financed and employer-based health plans. The GOP proposals also would erase the requirement that individual plans offer minimum essential benefits in 10 categories, including mental health and substance abuse, maternity care and prescription drugs. (Meyer, 1/28)
USA Today:
Patients Brace For Post-Obamacare Out-Of-Pocket Health Costs
A lack of clarity into what the Trump administration will do about the Affordable Care Act and drug prices is unnerving many patients with cancer and other chronic diseases, who worry that the alternative to high premiums and deductibles could lead to worse solutions than the high out-of-pocket costs they have now. Assurances that people with pre-existing health conditions will still be able to get insurance through any ACA replacement plan offers only partial solace to many cancer and heart patients. They know the details of any plan will determine whether they are better or worse off financially. (O'Donnell, 1/31)
Reuters:
Sanctuary City Funding Cuts Less Of A Concern Than Medicaid: Fitch
President Donald Trump's executive order last week to cut federal funding to self-proclaimed sanctuary cities would likely not result in an impact to cities' bond ratings, Fitch Ratings reported on Monday. Instead, a push to convert Medicaid to a block grant would likely result in a more significant effect on state and local government finances, Fitch noted. (Respaut, 1/30)