Health-Exchange-Alert

CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Friday stressed a willingness to work with states interested in expanding their Medicaid programs, saying there’s still time for those that want to take advantage of the increased federal matching money in the American Rescue Plan.

Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA) and ranking Republican Tim Scott (R-SC) agreed at a Thursday (June 17) hearing that more thought needs to be given to home- and community-based services policy, but Casey hailed President Joe Biden’s proposal to invest $400 billion in HCBS as the way forward while Scott said a more person-centered, local approach is needed.

While ACA supporters hope the high court’s 7-2 decision to dismiss the constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act for lack of standing will end the years-long attack on the law, Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch say in their dissent that further legal action is still possible.

Democratic lawmakers, beneficiary advocates, insurers, hospitals, and other stakeholders cheered the Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision to throw out the GOP challenge to the Affordable Care Act and called on Congress to now take steps to build upon the law.

President Joe Biden’s proposal to invest $400 billion in home- and community-based services would boost funding for social determinants of health within the HCBS program, and some health care stakeholders are optimistic the investment could be a step towards broader social determinants funding.

HHS hints in its latest regulatory agenda that a proposed exchange rule now under White House review will extend the open enrollment period for the 2022 benefit year, although it's unclear for how long.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure on Monday (June 14) announced that more than 1.24 million people signed up for coverage through healthcare.gov from the Feb. 15 launch of the special enrollment period through May 31, and about one-third of Americans who have either enrolled or returned to the exchange to access new tax credits since April 1 have plans costing $10 or less due to the American Rescue Plan.

The 2022 medical cost trend for commercial and self-insured employers will 6.5%, or slightly lower than 2021 yet still somewhat higher than the recent pre-pandemic rate, PwC’s Health Research Institute (HRI) predicts in its annual report dubbed Medical Cost Trend: Behind the Numbers.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra told lawmakers Wednesday (June 9) the department might soon take steps to curb non-ACA-compliant plans, including short-term plans, that beneficiary advocates and Democratic lawmakers say are proliferating the markets and harming consumers, but he again deferred to Congress to lay a path for a potential public option.