Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
There Will Be More 'Get Out Of Insurance Free' Cards, And Other Takeaways From New Health Law Rule
Modern Healthcare: 5 Takeaways From CMS' Final 2019 ACA Marketplace Rule
The CMS issued a 523-page final rule late Monday that agency officials said is meant to give states more power to regulate their individual and small-group health insurance markets. The rule also furthers the Trump administration's agenda of chipping away at Affordable Care Act rules in lieu of a full repeal, which congressional Republicans haven't been able to pull off. (Livingston, 4/10)
Politico Pro: CMS Overhaul Of Obamacare Program Could Help Small Insurers
The Trump administration is moving forward with a major change to one of Obamacare’s insurance stabilization programs meant to attract more competitors to the struggling marketplaces. The change to the law’s risk adjustment program, which is supposed to help insurers with disproportionately sicker customers, comes after years of complaints that it hurt smaller companies and drove them away from the exchanges. (Demko, 4/10)
Meanwhile, in the states —
Chicago Tribune: Some Illinois Consumers Won’t Have To Pay Obamacare Penalty This Year
Consumers who chose to pay a penalty rather than sign up for health insurance are getting a break, depending where they live. Most consumers have been required under the Affordable Care Act to have health insurance or pay a federal penalty of $695 per adult or 2.5 percent of household income for last year, whichever was greater. (Schencker, 4/10)
The Associated Press: Hogan Signs Bills On Health Care, School Safety
Gov. Larry Hogan signed legislation on Tuesday that takes a unique approach to stabilize health insurance rates in the state health care exchange’s troubled individual market. The bill taps about $380 million that health insurance companies no longer have to pay in federal taxes due to changes in the federal tax code to help prevent rising premiums for about 150,000 people. A separate bill the governor already has signed creates a long-term plan to preserve the exchange through a reinsurance program. (Witte, 4/10)
