Lawmakers, Unfazed By White House Memo, Work On Finishing Touches To Market Stabilization Deal
A leaked memo from the Trump administration includes new demands in return for the president's support, but lawmakers are marching forward with their efforts and are optimistic for a deal soon. Meanwhile, a group of attorneys general is speaking out against a rule to allow states to work around certain health law requirements.
Modern Healthcare:
Lawmakers Soldier On With Insurance Stabilization After White House Memo
Lawmakers are moving forward with final negotiations on an individual market stabilization measure despite the Trump administration's latest requests in exchange for its support. In a memo leaked Tuesday, the Trump administration suggested it would support funding cost-sharing reduction payments for insurers if Congress includes several other provisions in the upcoming spending omnibus, including anti-abortion language and expanding access to health savings accounts. Two proposals in particular concern insurers. (Luthi, 3/7)
The Hill:
Dem AGs Rip Proposed Trump Rule On Health Plans
A coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general is blasting a proposed Trump administration rule to allow health plans to circumvent certain ObamaCare rules. The group, led by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, said the proposal is a thinly veiled attempt to undermine the health-care law. (Weixel, 3/7)
Des Moines Register:
Farm Bureau Could Skirt Obamacare Under Bill Passed By Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate voted Wednesday to let the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield sell health insurance plans that don't comply with the federal Affordable Care Act. The new coverage could offer relatively low premiums for young and healthy consumers, but people with pre-existing health problems could once again be charged more or denied coverage. (Leys and Petroski, 3/7)
And in other news —
The Baltimore Sun:
Governor Hogan, Legislative Leaders Press Congress For Help Stabilizing Obamacare Market
Describing recent health insurance premium increases in Maryland as “unsustainable,” Gov. Larry Hogan and the state’s legislative leaders on Wednesday embraced the idea of a federal reinsurance program that would help offset the expense of the sickest patients. In a letter to Maryland’s mostly Democratic congressional delegation, the Republican governor said the state is working to address premium increases caused by “recent federal actions,” but said the state has limited power to stem rate increases for the approximately 150,000 people buying private coverage through the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. (Fritze, 3/7)
