Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Health Law's Future Post-Obama Depends On Ability To Evolve
The New York Times: Ailing Obama Health Care Act May Have To Change To Survive
The fierce struggle to enact and carry out the Affordable Care Act was supposed to put an end to 75 years of fighting for a health care system to insure all Americans. Instead, the law’s troubles could make it just a way station on the road to another, more stable health care system, the shape of which could be determined on Election Day. Seeing a lack of competition in many of the health law’s online insurance marketplaces, Hillary Clinton, President Obama and much of the Democratic Party are calling for more government, not less. (Pear, 10/2)
The Wall Street Journal: Obama Administration Ends Drive To Ban Bare-Bones Health Plans
The Obama administration has ended a bid to ban the sale of bare-bones health plans after losing a court fight on the issue this summer. Government lawyers told a federal court earlier this month they would accept its decision that they had overstepped by seeking to effectively end so-called fixed indemnity plans, which are low-cost but pay out only set cash amounts for medical events such as a hospital visit or prescription purchase. (Radnofsky, 9/30)
The Associated Press: Minnesota Regulator: Insurance Market In Dire Situation
Minnesota's individual health care market is in "an emergency situation," the state's top industry regulator said Friday, noting that it took the approval of massive rate increases to persuade all its remaining insurance companies not to pull out for next year. (Potter, 9/30)
Morning Consult: Minn. Insurance Commissioner Announces Major Premium Hikes, Calls For Exchange Reforms
Minnesota’s commerce commissioner called for reforms to strengthen the federal marketplace Friday after announcing monthly premium increases of at least 50 percent for 2017. “While federal tax credits will help make monthly premiums more affordable for many Minnesotans, these rising insurance rates are both unsustainable and unfair,” Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman said in a statement. “Middle-class Minnesotans in particular are being crushed by the heavy burden of these costs. ..." The state improved monthly premium increases between 50 percent and 67 percent for the seven insurers offering plans on the state’s exchange, MNsure, in 2017. Approximately 250,000 in the state purchase insurance through the state’s marketplace, about 5 percent of the state’s population. (McIntire, 9/30)
The Pioneer Press: ‘Emergency’ For Minnesota As Huge Insurance Premium Hikes Confirmed
Minnesota’s individual insurance market is in danger of collapse, Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman said Friday as he announced massive premium increases for 2017 plans. (Montgomery, 9/30)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Common Ground Insurance Co-Op Secures Financing
Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative said Friday it has received a capital infusion that will enable it to remain in business and continue to sell health plans next year. The cooperative said that under terms of its agreement, it could not disclose the source or amount of the financing it received. (Boulton, 9/30)
Meanwhile, NPR takes a look back at a different federal health law —
NPR: Hill-Burton Act: A Health Care Milestone Worth Remembering
People might be forgiven for thinking that the Affordable Care Act is the federal government's boldest intrusion into the private business of health care. But few know about a 70-year-old law that is responsible for the construction of much of our health system's infrastructure. The law's latest anniversary came and went without much notice in August. (Schumann, 10/2)
