Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Coalition Of State Attorneys General Sues To Block Association Health Plans Rule
Modern Healthcare: Democratic Attorneys General Sue To Block Association Health Plan Rule
Twelve Democratic attorneys general sued the Trump administration Thursday to block a new rule making it easier for small firms and individuals to band together in association health plans free from many Affordable Care Act market rules. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleged the final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Labor last month violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the Affordable Care Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. (Meyer, 7/26)
Boston Globe: Healey Leads 12-State Lawsuit Against Department Of Labor For New Regulation
The complaint, filed Thursday in US District Court in Washington D.C., contends that the US Department of Labor’s regulation “would allow associations to market low-quality health care plans across the country and avoid the protections for consumers in the Affordable Care Act,” according to a statement from Healey’s office. (Cote, 7/27)
The Hill: States Sue Trump Administration Over Expansion Of Skimpy Group Insurance Plans
Association health plans allow small businesses and other groups to band together to buy health insurance. The rule allows more groups to join together to form associations. The move is part of a broader Trump administration effort to open up skimpier, cheaper plans as an alternative to ObamaCare plans. (Weixel, 7/26)
San Francisco Chronicle: California Sues Trump Administration Over Small-Business Health Policy
The Labor Department said the plans will not deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions or charge them more, and will help employers control health care costs. The 11 other attorneys general joining with California’s represent New York, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington state. (Ho, 7/26)
The Hill: House Dems Pressure GOP On Pre-Existing Conditions Protections
A resolution backed by top House Democrats would allow the House to intervene in a pending federal lawsuit to defend the legality of ObamaCare. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), mirrors one introduced in the Senate last week and is aimed squarely at congressional Republicans. (Weixel, 7/26)
In other health law news —
The Hill: Congressional Watchdog Finds Energy Dept. Violated Law With Anti-ObamaCare Tweet
A congressional watchdog agency found Thursday that the Department of Energy violated the law last year with a negative tweet about ObamaCare. The report from the Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress, finds that the Department of Energy violated the law because its funding is not directed to be used for health-care messaging. (Sullivan, 7/26)
The Hill: Modest Premium Increases Hurt Democrats’ Midterm Messaging
Health insurers are proposing relatively modest premium bumps for next year, despite doomsday predictions from Democrats that the Trump administration’s changes to ObamaCare would bring massive increases in 2019. That could make it a challenge for Democrats looking to weaponize rising premiums heading into the midterm elections. (Hellmann, 7/26)
Nashville Tennessean: Health Insurance Marketplace Options Expanding In Tennessee Next Year
Next year, Tennessee consumers will have more options for coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, as carriers reverse the trend of previous years and re-enter or expand in the state’s individual market. Right now, five different insurance carriers have filed with the state to sell individual health plans in 2019. This is the most carriers selling in Tennessee’s individual market since 2016. (Tolbert, 7/26)
Kaiser Health News: Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Congress And Health Care. Again.
Almost exactly a year after the GOP-led Senate killed a bill to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, the Republican House this week passed bills that would tinker around the edges of the health law. While none of the bills is expected to pass the Senate, House Republicans hope their action can help blunt Democratic attacks over health care in the midterm elections this fall. Meanwhile, officials in Washington continue to react to recent court decisions regarding work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries and payments to insurers under the Affordable Care Act. (7/26)
