Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Washington State Passed A Public Option But Now Comes The Hard Part: Making It Work
Politico: 5 Key Questions About The Country's First Public Option
Washington state formally approved the public option this week, becoming the first state to test a policy that numerous Democratic presidential candidates — including the state’s governor — will tout on the campaign trail. But the state’s work on the idea is just beginning, and it’s facing a major time crunch to get the plans launched by the legislation’s 2021 start date. State officials must wrestle with key questions about how to design the public plan to make it affordable enough to attract new customers, while ensuring enough hospitals and doctors will join its network. (Pradhan and Goldberg, 5/14)
Los Angeles Times: Newsom’s Tough Sell On Healthcare: Persuading Public On Fines For Those Without Coverage
Five months after unveiling a sweeping plan to lower health insurance costs for middle-class Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom now must sell the politically unpopular part of his proposal — hefty fines on those who do not have medical coverage. On Tuesday, he launched his pitch by highlighting how the high cost of health insurance is hurting small-business owners, and he warned lawmakers that failing to approve the fees to fund expanded subsidies is a “bad decision.” (Gutierrez, 5/14)
The Associated Press: California Governor Wants To Help More Buy Health Insurance
Sydney Winlock owns a small business with his wife in Northern California, and they had a strange conversation recently: Should they make less money so they can afford their health insurance? The couple makes too much money to qualify for help from the federal government in paying their monthly insurance premiums, which now cost them $18,000 a year. But if they scale back their business and make less money, they would qualify for the help. (5/14)
In other news —
The Star Tribune: Health Costs Surge For Minnesota Employers, Employees
Health care spending for Minnesota businesses and their workers jumped 9.6% last year — nearly triple the national growth rate — as employers reported that old cost-cutting solutions have begun to run their course. Minnesota was an early user of strategies such as moving workers to high-deductible health plans and enticing them to pick cheaper generic prescription drugs. (Olson, 5/14)
