WASHINGTON – March 9, 2018 – The administration released a letter last night to Idaho Governor Butch Otter and Idaho Insurance Commissioner Dean Cameron clarifying that a bulletin issued last month permitting the sale of products that don’t meet required consumer protections and discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions would be in violation of the federal health care law. The decision comes less than a month after ACS CAN and more than a dozen other patient groups raised concerns about the legality of the bulletin and potential for serious harm to patients if the governor’s order was allowed to stand.
A statement on the administration’s decision from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network President Chris Hansen follows:
“We applaud the administration for the decision to protect patients by ensuring they continue to have access to protections in the health care law.
“American Cancer Society research shows that those who have health insurance are diagnosed with cancer at earlier stages when the disease is less expensive to treat and chance of survival is greater.
“ACS CAN stands ready to work with the administration to find ways to improve the quality and affordability of health coverage in ways that don’t undermine market stability and ensure cancer patients, survivors and those at risk for the disease don’t face obstacles to obtaining the care they need.”