Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Problems With Coverage, Subsidy Eligibility For Some Enrolled On Healthcare.gov Identified In Inspector General Review
The Wall Street Journal: Audit Of Health Exchanges Finds Fault With Controls
Some consumers who got health coverage or subsidies through HealthCare.gov might not have been eligible to receive them last year because of deficiencies in the federal exchange’s internal controls, according to a government report likely to further stoke Republican criticism. (Armour, 8/10)
Politico Pro: No Action On Health Law Anti-Discrimination Regs After Five Years
The Obama administration has yet to spell out how it will enforce a key provision of the Affordable Care Act prohibiting discrimination in health care delivery more than five years after the law’s passage. Patient advocates and regulatory experts are mystified by the lack of action on the civil rights protections. (Demko, 8/7)
The Connecticut Mirror: The Next Big Push: Getting People Health Care, Not Just Insurance
Since the federal health law’s major provisions rolled out last year, much of the attention has been on getting people signed up for private insurance or Medicaid. But increasingly, the focus of those in health care, insurance and advocacy groups is turning to what comes next: making sure those who gained coverage use it to improve their health, and ensuring that the health care system is adapting to meet their needs – things that could be significantly more complicated than getting people signed up for coverage. (Levin Becker, 8/10)
In exchange news, Connecticut is developing a tool to help consumers see the true cost of health plans before making an enrollment decision -
The Connecticut Mirror: In Insurance, Premium Isn’t The Full Price. Can A Tool Help Shoppers?
Many people shopping for health insurance pick plans with the lowest monthly cost. But experts say that’s not necessarily the best buy, since those plans often leave members with steep out-of-pocket costs when they get care. In some cases, advocates and officials say, people who picked the cheapest options – known as bronze plans – ended up not using their coverage because they couldn’t afford to pay for care. (Levin Becker, 8/7)
