Tag Archive for: aca update
Coronavirus and Cancer Resources for Survivors
Cancer survivors have expressed concerns and questions about COVID-19, the coronavirus, and how they may be at higher risk due to their cancer history. Here are some resources about COVID-19 generally, and its impact for cancer survivors specifically. NCCS is seeking answers from public health experts on the coronavirus and its impact on cancer patients and survivors. Please leave a comment [...]
Cancer Policy News Roundup: Proposed Cuts to CHIP, Association Health Plans in Farm Bill, Prescribing Exercise for Cancer Patients, and More
A new weekly roundup of policy news affecting the cancer community. In order to bring you the latest cancer-related health care policy and news, we are combining 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. [...]
ACA Update | Submit Your Comments on Expansion of Harmful Short-Term Health Plans Before Monday, April 23 Deadline
If you haven’t already submitted comments regarding the short-term limited-duration proposed rule, please take 5 minutes to do so before the deadline on Monday night! NCCS recently hosted a webinar on what these short-term plans mean for cancer survivors. See the webinar blog post for step-by-step instructions on how to submit comments to ensure cancer patients’ voices are heard. Another ACA development occurred this week. [...]
ACA Update | How Short-Term Health Plans Would Drive Up ACA Premiums and How Advocates Can Make Their Voice Heard
In February, the Trump administration released proposed rules that would loosen regulations on short-term limited-duration health insurance coverage. Short-term plans are very concerning as they are not subject to the ACA’s critical patient protections that have helped so many Americans, including millions of cancer patients. These plans can deny coverage due to a preexisting condition or charge people more based on their health status, [...]
ACA Update April 6, 2018 | New Iowa Law Allows Health Plans That Exclude Preexisting Condition Protections
Earlier this week, Iowa passed a law allowing the sale of health plans that are not subject to the important patient protection rules and regulations contained in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The law includes very specific carveout language that basically selects the Iowa Farm Bureau to partner with a designated insurance company (Wellmark) to offer so-called “health benefit plans” with no preexisting condition or essential health benefit protections. [...]
ACA Update March 23, 2018 | Congress Passes Spending Bill, Leaves Out ACA Market Stabilization
The spending bill, known as the omnibus, passed – but the push for ACA stabilization was not included. Beginning last summer, Senators Alexander and Murray were working on a bipartisan package that would aim to stabilize the ACA through cost-sharing reduction payments, outreach funding and reinsurance funding. In early December, Senator Collins pledged her vote on the Republican tax bill in exchange for ACA stabilization funding. [...]
ACA Update March 9, 2018 | HHS Says ‘Not Quite’ to Idaho’s Illegal Health Plans, Supports Expansion of Skinny Short-Term Coverage
As we reported recently, Idaho regulators announced they would allow the sale of insurance plans that don’t adhere to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirements and patient protections. Blue Cross of Idaho was planning to sell insurance plans that are priced based on applicants’ health status. But in a decision announced in a letter to Idaho’s governor yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) said that the administration [...]
ACA Update February 16, 2018 | Idaho Insurer Rolls Out Health Plans That Violate ACA Regulations, Including Pre-Existing Condition Protections
Two weeks ago, NCCS reported in our ACA Update that Idaho regulators said they would allow the sale of insurance plans that don’t adhere to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirements. This week, the state took it a step further when Blue Cross of Idaho unveiled health plans that break the ACA’s federal health laws in several ways. Blue Cross of Idaho will attempt to sell insurance plans that are priced based on applicants’ health status. [...]
ACA Update February 2, 2018 | GOP Unlikely to Try ACA Repeal Again as Trump Admin Focuses Efforts on Weakening ACA Regulations
If you ask Dylan Scott, a health care reporter for Vox, about the risk of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) being repealed, he’d say “The ACA is going to survive.” NCCS has heard this sentiment echoed by Members of Congress as well, with Senate Leader Mitch McConnell stating that he wants to move on to other priorities such as infrastructure. Even if Congressional Republicans agreed on a health care bill that could pass the chamber [...]
ACA Update Jan 19, 2018 | Funding for CHIP and Community Health Centers Hangs in the Balance as Gov’t Shutdown Looms
The federal government will shut down tonight at midnight if Congress doesn’t pass a spending bill before then. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was up for reauthorization four months ago, but because of budget disagreements between Democrats and Republicans on how to pay for the program, they have yet to come to an agreement. The House passed a continuing resolution, a short-term spending bill, that would fund [...]
ACA Update Jan 12, 2018 | Trump Admin Moves to Allow Medicaid Work Requirements; CHIP Extension Would Save Gov’t Billions
Earlier this week, NCCS’ CEO Shelley Fuld Nasso and Public Policy Manager Lindsay Houff hosted a Facebook Live health care policy update. They discussed legislative priorities for 2018 that impact cancer survivors and how you can help us advocate. On Thursday, the Trump administration released a 10-page memo outlining directions about how states can change Medicaid to include work requirements. Jane Perkins, legal director [...]