Health-Exchange-Alert

A coalition of business groups and other stakeholders tell Senate health committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and ranking Democrat Patty Murray (WA) that repealing the Affordable Care Act’s 40 percent tax on high-cost plans would be a critical first step in improving the health system, and also urge the lawmakers to reject any attempt to tax employer-sponsored coverage.

House Energy & Commerce health subcommittee Republicans debated the usefulness of Democratic legislation to prop up the Affordable Care Act markets via reinsurance and increased funding for exchange programs, arguing the Democrats’ reinsurance proposal would not give states enough flexibility and a boost in navigator funding would not be worth it because navigators don’t sign up enough people.

The moderate New Democrat Coalition is urging the committees of jurisdiction over health care to prioritize policies that would strengthen the Affordable Care Act while continuing to build a path toward affordable coverage for all Americans.

A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of data collected on plans offered through healthcare.gov finds an average 19 percent of in-network claims were denied, yet denial rates varied significantly for specific issuers, from 1 percent to more than 40 percent.

The House Energy & Commerce health subcommittee will examine legislation to strengthen the Affordable Care Act by establishing state reinsurance programs, increasing funding for the navigator programs and providing states with more federal funds to establish state-based marketplaces.

The coalition of groups suing to overturn the administration’s expansion of short-term plans is asking a federal judge to immediately rule in its favor, and the Department of Treasury, which is defending the plans, is also seeking a quick resolution.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told lawmakers that his agency will undertake the first update of its drug efficacy trial standards in 20 years under a multi-pronged plan aimed at making the investigational new drug process more efficient, lowering development costs and possibly making prescription drugs more affordable.

As members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus introduced their Medicare for All bill on Wednesday morning (Feb. 27), the Democratic chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee Frank Pallone and a freshman House Democrat Lauren Underwood expressed their support for universal health care, but were wary of supporting Medicare for All, instead suggesting alternatives.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar once again touted the Trump administration’s actions to expand short-term plans and associated health plans and update the state innovation waiver guidance as reasons the Affordable Care Act exchanges remained stable and premiums decreased over the past year.