On February 11, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that consultants who provide services to nursing homes and long-term care facilities lack standing to sue the state Medicaid agency and its contracted Managed Care Organizations on behalf of patients.
In Bria Health Servs., LLC v. Eagleson, No. 18-3076 (7th Cir.
On March 22, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would, if finalized, exempt states with high rates of Medicaid beneficiaries in managed care plans from monitoring and reporting requirements related to Medicaid service access set forth in 42 C.F.R. §§ 447.203 and
On Tuesday, February 20, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar announced that the agency intends to expand access to short-term, low-cost insurance policies. On Wednesday, HHS published its proposed rule, which promises to reduce restrictions on such limited-duration policies. The short-term insurance plans have fewer benefits and more limited consumer protections as compared to those proscribed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). While such short-term plans currently can only be carried for 90 days, the new proposal would extend that maximum coverage period to one year.
The proposed rule is in response to President Trump’s Executive Order from October 12, 2017, which called for HHS to expand access to low-cost insurance plans. The Executive Order asked the agency to explore the possibility of extending the maximum duration of such short-term, limited-duration plans in order to increase options for consumers. The short-term insurance plans are contemplated for individuals who are unemployed, between jobs, or otherwise looking to reduce premium costs for up to one year. The plans do not have to meet ACA requirements. Notably, they do not have to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions and they do not have to cover prescription drug plans. The plans offer more limited coverage for consumers, but impose less immediate financial burden through reduced premium cost. Insurers who sell the short-term plans would need to include clear statements on applications and plan documents that the coverage does not meet ACA requirements.
The proposed rule continues the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back the ACA and minimize its economic burden and comes just over a year after the president issued an Executive Order laying out that goal. It comes on the heels of earlier rules from the administration geared at stabilizing the individual and small group insurance markets. It also follows the signing of the new tax reform bill, which repeals the individual mandate of Section 5000A of the Tax Code and eliminates the shared responsibility payment for failure to obtain health insurance starting in 2019.
Continue Reading Azar Rolls Out Expansion of Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance Plans