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While roughly 83% of adults in the United States will visit a health care provider in the next year, an estimated
News
6-8-12 Affordable Care Act Update
June 8, 2012
State Update
Responses to an essential health benefits survey for state insurance departments and insurance commissioners, which was created by Society Divisions and ACS CAN in partnership with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (National MS Society), are beginning to arrive. As of June 7, five states have completed the survey (Alaska, Delaware, Iowa, Vermont and Virginia) and we have secured commitments from Insurance Commissioners (IC) in four additional states (Arizona, Idaho, Illinois and Minnesota) to provide the information requested.
The survey covers 31 different benefits considered vital for individuals with chronic diseases, including cancer, and will help gauge the adequacy of state insurance plans that may eventually be chosen as the benchmark level for essential health benefits for all individual and small group plans in a state beginning in 2014, when the health insurance exchanges are up and running. ACS CAN is particularly interested in flagging any "inside limits" that may exist within these plans -- for example, restrictions on the number of times a patient can use a particular service, such as laboratory tests or doctor visits each year. By identifying any major gaps early in the process, we can work to eliminate or lessen them before they become problematic for individuals who are fighting diseases such as cancer.
ACS CAN and Division advocacy staff are working in partnership to spearhead follow up to the survey. Given a variety of external factors that made it almost impossible for many state ICs to respond in time, the original June 1 deadline has been extended. Follow up will continue and with at least 10 states are considered strong candidates to respond based on factors such as whether the legislature is in session, what steps have been taken to set up an exchange, and where a strong working relationship with an IC is already established. Society Divisions and ACS CAN will continue to work with ADA, AHA, and the National MS Society in this effort. Many states are also recruiting other organizations that have been allies on other state and local campaigns and projects.
A recent Commonwealth Fund report underscores the importance of conducting this survey. The report's authors found that more than half of the plans currently sold on the individual market do not meet the standards set for essential health benefits set by the Affordable Care Act.
Litigation Update
The Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is expected to be announced before the court recesses for the summer at the end of June. At this time it is unclear what day the court will announce the decision, but whenever it occurs, ACS CAN plans to host a conference call that afternoon to discuss the ruling and provide information and talking points on ACS CAN's response to the decision. Please make a note to look for an e-mail from Chris Hansen containing the call in information shortly after the decision is announced.
As always, thank you for all you do every day to support laws and policies that help cancer patients and their families.
Chris Hansen | President
ACS Cancer Action Network | American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.