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Health Care Roundup: With the Midterms Behind Us, What’s Next For Health Care?

November 9, 2018/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, Health Care Coverage Health Care Roundup, NCCS News /by actualize
In order to bring you the latest cancer-related health care policy and news, we at NCCS combined our ACA Updates and What Caught Our Eye (WCOE) content into a weekly email and blog post. We aim to make this a concise, one-stop summary of what you need to know as we continue working together to make cancer care better for everyone.

Your feedback is always welcome to make our content more useful to you. Please send comments to feedback@canceradvocacy.org.

Subscribe to our email list and receive these updates in your email box each week »


HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHTS

What the Midterm Elections Mean for Health Care

Technically, the midterm elections are behind us. However, with nearly 60 new Representatives ready to join Congress, NCCS continues to analyze the results and identify what opportunities and challenges may lie ahead for cancer care.

To start, with the House now in Democratic control, the threat of legislative repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is likely off the table after two years of repeated attempts to gut the law. At a news conference this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected the possibility that Obamacare repeal will return to the legislative agenda, saying it is "very obvious" the Democrats would not be interested in repealing the law. He said Congress will now turn toward finding bipartisan solutions on the rising cost of prescription drugs.

However, while legislative repeal of the ACA is now unlikely, we anticipate continued attempts to chip away at the ACA through the regulatory process. As we reported just last week, the administration released new guidance that would allow states to sell junk insurance plans and permit ACA subsidies to pay for these plans. All indications point to the fact that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be lenient in approving state waivers to further weaken and reduce access and affordability to patients in certain states.

Another result of the midterm elections was the expansion of Medicaid in Utah, Idaho, and Nebraska, giving health coverage to 325,000 people and bringing the total number of states to expand under the ACA to 37. Democrat Janet Mills won the governor’s seat in Maine, where Medicaid expansion passed on a ballot measure in 2017, only to be stalled because the current governor flatly refused to approve implementation. So that state is also expected to expand Medicaid.

Speaking of regulatory policy, this week HHS Secretary Alex Azar announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to release a new mandatory Medicare payment model for cancer patients. The model will focus on radiation oncology, but no other details are known at this time. NCCS will continue to monitor this and keep you updated as the model rolls out.


CHART OF THE WEEK

Midterm exit polls: Health care is top issue for voters

NBC News

Exit polls on Tuesday showed that health care was the most important issue to voters in the midterm elections.


IMPORTANT READS

Midterms put the brakes on Republicans’ health care agenda—so what’s next?

MarketWatch

We saw candidates on both sides of the aisle campaign on protecting pre-existing conditions because health care and the ACA came in as the number one issue for voters in this election. Now that Democrats have control of the House, the ACA is no longer at threat of repeal by Congress.

Read More »

The new health care agenda: gridlock, lots of hearings

Axios

Axios provides a great overview of the election results and their impact on health care. In addition, they make predictions for the new Congress including a heavy dose of health care investigations and hearings, focused on regulations and waivers that undermine the ACA and Medicaid.

Read More »

Open enrollment is underway—here’s what consumers should know

Kaiser Family Foundation

Now that short-term health insurance policies, or junk plans, are available for consumers, it is important to know that these plans are not ACA-compliant and do not cover pre-existing conditions, essential health benefits, or other important patient protections. Kaiser Family Foundation shares a fact sheet on these short-term plans.

Read More »


Related Posts

https://canceradvocacy.org/blog/health-care-roundup-nov-2-2018/
https://canceradvocacy.org/blog/health-care-roundup-oct-26-2018/

Tags: aca update, affordable care act, health care roundup, Medicaid, short-term health plans, What Caught Our Eye
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Latest News

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NCCS, Cancer Groups Urge CMS to Withdraw Most Favored Nation (MFN) Medicare Part B Rule That Will Harm Patients and Reduce Access to Care

December 22, 2020
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) joined other member organizations…
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https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HHS-Humphrey-bldg-1200.jpg 600 1200 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2020-12-22 20:27:262021-01-04 21:38:15NCCS, Cancer Groups Urge CMS to Withdraw Most Favored Nation (MFN) Medicare Part B Rule That Will Harm Patients and Reduce Access to Care
NCCS Letter to HHS

NCCS Letter to HHS: Proposed Regulatory Review Rule Would Create Unnecessary Uncertainty for Patients

December 9, 2020
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) recently submitted comments…
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https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/HHS-Humphrey-bldg-1200-1030x515-1.jpg 515 1030 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2020-12-09 17:30:502020-12-10 08:22:55NCCS Letter to HHS: Proposed Regulatory Review Rule Would Create Unnecessary Uncertainty for Patients
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NCCS Opposes Most Favored Nation (MFN) Rule: New Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model Will Harm Patients

December 3, 2020
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) opposes the Most Favored Nation…
Read more
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/HHS-Humphrey-bldg-1200.jpg 600 1200 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2020-12-03 21:26:462020-12-03 21:28:06NCCS Opposes Most Favored Nation (MFN) Rule: New Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model Will Harm Patients

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  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • Our Leadership
      • Policy Advisors
    • Employment
    • Partnerships
    • Financial Information
  • Policy
    • Quality Cancer Care
    • Access to Care
    • Health Equity
    • Redefining Functional Status (RFS)
    • 2020 State of Cancer Survivorship Survey
    • Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act (CCPCA)
  • Get Involved
    • What is Advocacy?
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT)
    • Elevating Survivorship
    • Survivor Stories
    • Cancerversary
    • State Based Cancer Advocacy
  • Resources
    • Survivorship Checklist
    • Cancer Survival Toolbox
    • Telehealth
    • Publications
      • Talking With Your Doctor
      • Self Advocacy
      • Employment Rights
      • Remaining Hopeful
    • Taking Charge of Your Care
    • Care Planning for Cancer Survivors
    • Tools For Care Providers
    • COVID-19 Resources for Cancer Survivors
    • Order Our Resources
  • News
    • Cancer Convos Podcast
  • Events
    • Ellen L. Stovall Award
      • 2020 Stovall Awards
      • Honorees
      • Sponsors
      • Committees
      • Reception
      • Nominations
    • Cancer Policy Roundtable
      • Fall 2020 Cancer Policy Roundtable
      • Spring 2020 Cancer Policy Roundtable
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT) Symposium 2020
    • Webinars
  • Contact Us

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Harmar Brereton, MD

Founder
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute

 

“Perhaps one of the most impactful collaborations in Dr. Brereton’s extraordinary career remains his early work and long friendship with Ellen Stovall. Through him, and in turn through the thousands of lives he has touched, Ellen’s work continues, and her mission lives on.”

—Karen M. Saunders
President, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute