Site Search

Share

X

Search Results

11-10-11 Affordable Care Act Update

... broker and agent commissions should be included in the MLR calculation so that it accurately reflects the proportion of spending by insurers on health care as opposed to administrative expenses. Removing commissions from the calculation would violate the intent of the ACA and render the MLR ... table the MLR issue for the time being, but the NAIC could raise it again, possibly in the next few weeks.   In other news, the Department of Health and Human Services "listening tour" on what should constitute "essential health benefits" that health plans sold in the new exchanges must ...

4-19-12 Affordable Care Act Update

In the States   As we previously noted in this space, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has tasked each state with defining an essential health benefits (EHB) package that will cover 10 broad categories defined in a December 16, 2011 HHS bulletin. In combination with this task, ... A new Commonwealth Fund report on gaps in health insurance shows that segments of target audiences for two popular provisions of the Affordable Care Act are unaware of its benefits. Overall the majority of Americans know about the provision allowing individuals under 26 to stay on their ...

10-21-10 Affordable Care Act Update

Below is this week’s update on the Affordable Care Act. As always, thank you for all you do every day to support laws and policies that help cancer patients and their families.   National ... percentage insurers spend on benefits versus administrative costs, under the Affordable Care Act. The NAIC proposal now goes to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), who will in turn issue a federal regulation based on the proposal.   Read the NAIC press release .   This is ... Assistance Program Grants this week that will allow states to provide direct assistance to consumers with questions or concerns regarding their health insurance.   To date 35 states, four territories and the District of Columbia applied for and received grants to establish programs that ...

2-16-12 Affordable Care Act Update

Federal Update           The Prevention and Public Health Fund is a major target in both the president's 2013 fiscal year (FY 2013) budget, and the payroll tax extension legislation that Congress is debating this week. The goal of the Fund is to refocus the health care system on early detection and disease prevention through innovative and integrated methods at the federal, state and local levels.   The ...

6-23-11 Affordable Care Act Update

...             External Appeals Regulation Released   External appeals are critical in resolving disputes patients may have with their health plan if a claim is denied, to ensure that health insurance works for consumers. This week the Administration released an amendment to its previous regulation on external appeals. The good ... Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed a bill that requires state officials to set up a health insurance exchange as called for in the Affordable Care Act. Nevada joins four other states where governors have signed legislation signaling the intent to establish an exchange (Virginia), study ...

3-28-13 Affordable Care Act Update

... 11 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation or regulations needed to implement insurance market reforms in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The study explains in detail why states need to pass conforming legislation, and how a failure to do so may impact a state's ... ACA, 57 percent of Americans say they still do not have enough information to understand how it will affect them, according to the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll. This percentage rises to two-thirds of key groups the law was designed to help: the uninsured (67%) and those with incomes ... the public is not tuned in to decisions states are making about accepting federal funds to cover more people through Medicaid and establishing health insurance exchanges, or marketplaces. In general, the country remains fairly divided on the ACA, with 40 percent holding an unfavorable view ...

7-13-12 Affordable Care Act Update

Federal Update   The House of Representatives voted yesterday to repeal the Affordable Care Act(ACA) - the first such vote since the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the law two weeks ago. The Repeal of Obamacare Act (HR ... expansion as a way to increase access to lifesaving cancer care, and will provide advocacy staff tools and resources to make the case for health care coverage for individuals at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level as called for in the ACA.    The ACA Medicaid expansion will provide more than 17 million people with access to comprehensive health care coverage that includes proven cancer prevention and early detection measures, cancer treatment, and follow up care.  In the coming ...

10-19-12 Affordable Care Act Update

State Update   Thus far about 20 states have submitted a benchmark essential health benefits (EHB) plan to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The majority of remaining states, however, are likely to end up with the default plan (the largest small group ... if they prefer an option other than the default.      After the election, we expect HHS to release a multitude of proposed Affordable Care Act regulations, including those for EHB and cost sharing.  It is unclear at this time how much discretion states or insurers will have to ...

8-12-10 Affordable Care Act Update

... Senior Staff, ACS Advocacy Leaders, ACS Advocacy Personnel, Media Advocacy and ACS CAN Staff . Below is this week’s update on the Affordable Care Act. As always, thank you for all you do every day for cancer patients and their families. Medicaid Protections – Federal Medical Assistance ... returned to Washington, DC during their August recess to vote on the six-month extension of FMAP funding. The federal funding will protect state health programs and benefits for low-income cancer patients and families across the country.  The House passed H.R. 1586 247-to-161, and the ... ACS CAN senior director of Policy, will testify along with other consumer representatives at a hearing on the establishment of state based health exchanges. The NAIC is likely to develop model legislation for states, so the goal of the consumer representatives is to identify the key ...

1-20-11 Affordable Care Act Update

... Presidents, ACS Advocacy Leaders, ACS Advocacy Personnel, Media Advocacy and ACS CAN Staff.   Below is this week’s update on the Affordable Care Act. As always, thank you for all you do every day to support laws and policies that help cancer patients and their families.   Health Care Reform Repeal Bill and Replace Resolution Pass the House   The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday night on legislation ( HR ... phase of its effort to dismantle the law. The House debated and voted on H Res. 9 , which calls on three House committees of jurisdiction for health care and the House Judiciary Committee to write and report out legislation that proposes changes to the law. The legislation passed 253-175, ...

Type

Priority Issue

State

Policy Issue

Judicial Advocacy