Short-Term Plans Are Same Ones Obama Had For Eight Years, HHS Secretary Says In Face Of Criticism
Democrats say the Trump administration's proposal to extend short-term plans will weaken the marketplace by allowing healthy people to buy coverage that's not compliant with the health law. But HHS Secretary Alex Azar says it's just returning to a status quo that only changed in 2017. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump hints the White House has some "great health plans" coming out in the next few weeks, but didn't go into details.
The Hill:
Trump Health Chief Defends Short-Term Insurance Plans
President Trump’s goal of expanding short-term health plans will not harm the insurance marketplace, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar said Thursday. Under questioning from Senate Democrats during a hearing on the HHS budget, Azar repeatedly defended a proposed rule from the administration that would allow the sale of short-term health plans for up to an entire year. (Weixel, 5/10)
Bloomberg:
Trump Says He Has ‘Great Health Plans’ Coming Out Within 4 Weeks
President Donald Trump said Thursday that his administration would have “great health plans” coming out within four weeks. The president, who has tried unsuccessfully to get Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act, didn’t elaborate on his statement, made during a rally in Elkhart, Indiana. A White House spokesman didn’t immediately respond to requests to clarify the statement. (Talev, 5/10)
In other health law news —
Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Cost Of Most Individual Market Plans In Virginia Set To Jump By Double Digit Percentages Next Year
Nearly every insurer that has filed intentions to offer a plan on the Affordable Care Act’s exchange for 2019 predicts large cost spikes, with one going up nearly 85 percent. Some insurers, though, are predicting decreases, such as Anthem HealthKeepers and Optima Health Plan. (O'Connor, 5/10)
Modern Healthcare:
New York, Minnesota Settle Lawsuit Over Missing Federal Funding For Health Plan Program
New York and Minnesota officials have settled a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to slash federal funding for the states' health plan programs that cover certain low-income people. A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the case after the HHS agreed to pay $151.9 million to New York and $17.3 million to Minnesota by May 14 to fund the states' Basic Health Programs, which together cover 800,000 people. (Livingston, 5/10)
Kaiser Health News:
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ The Politics Of Rising Premiums And Menu Labeling
Proposed insurance premium increases unveiled in Maryland and Virginia officially marked the start of finger-pointing on Capitol Hill this week, as Democrats and Republicans blamed each other for the dysfunction of the individual insurance market under the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump sent to lawmakers a budget “rescission” package that would take back some $7 billion from the Children’s Health Insurance Program. And, after many delays and considerable controversy, new rules requiring calorie counts on menus at chain restaurants took effect this week. (5/10)
