State Health Policy Blog
New Insurance Rules Give States Options to Revise Marketplace Coverage as Rate-Filing Deadlines Near
Last week, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released rules governing Affordable Care Act health plans in 2019 that give states the flexibility to revise what insurance plans are sold through their individual and small group marketplaces, and give consumers the option to buy “thinner” plans at lower prices. The long-awaited final […]
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Do You Know What’s Really Driving Up Health Care Costs in Your State? Take This Quiz
It’s common knowledge that health care spending in the United States is much higher than in other developed countries, and our out-sized spending doesn’t even help us live longer. A new Journal of the American Medical Association article, which compares health care costs in America with 10 other countries, is required reading for state policy […]
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Minnesota Accountable Community for Health Saves Medicaid $3.8 Million through Its Opioid Prevention Initiative
Morrison County’s Accountable Community for Health Accomplishments: Tapered 453 patients off narcotic, stimulants, and benzodiazepine prescriptions, which resulted in 540,000 fewer doses; Saved Medicaid $3.8 million by reducing these drug prescriptions; and Reduced jail time from an average 17 days to less than one in 36 surveyed patients who received medication-assisted treatment (Suboxone). *CHI St. […]
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States’ Prescription Drug Transparency Laws Open the Black Box of Drug Pricing
Several states have passed drug price transparency laws that require drug makers to report the reasons behind dramatic price increases. These laws are an important first step to shine a light on why drug prices are rapidly climbing. To address a problem, state health policymakers need to understand it, but transparency laws don’t yet give […]
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Leveraging State Purchasing Power to Stabilize the Individual Insurance Market: Washington State Leads the Way
Washington state has enacted a groundbreaking law to help stabilize its individual insurance market and prevent “bare counties,” areas of the state without an insurance option on its exchange. Sponsored by longtime National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) member, state Rep. Eileen Cody, HB 2408 requires insurance plans covering state or school employees to offer at least […]
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The Evolving Promise of Delivery System Reform Incentive Programs
Among the transformation initiatives states are undertaking to revamp, strengthen, and sustain their Medicaid delivery systems are provider payment incentives designed to lower costs and improve quality of care and health outcomes. A recent National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) report on Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) programs and similar state incentive programs, […]
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Mental Health and Opioid Crisis Programs Win Funding Hikes, Efforts to Stabilize Insurance Markets Fail
The new $1.3 trillion budget bill that finances the federal government through September increased funding for a number of health programs that directly impact states, including rural programs to combat the opioid crisis. There were no appropriations made to stabilize Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance markets. Under the budget, the Department of Health and Human […]
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NASHP State Leaders Meet to Reflect and Plan in a Changing Health Care Environment
Last week, 24 National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) leaders, including state lawmakers and representatives from governors’, budget, and insurance offices, Medicaid and public health agencies, and insurance exchanges, CHIP and health policy commissions met in Washington, DC, to assess the issues and opportunities confronting state health policymakers. The robust discussion helps NASHP set […]
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Congressional Leaders Propose ACA Insurance Stabilization Measures in Omnibus Budget Bill
On Friday, March 23, 2018, Congress faces an important deadline to pass an omnibus budget bill to avert a government shutdown. Measures to bolster states’ Affordable Care Act (ACA) markets are currently not in the bill, but a group of lawmakers have proposed an amendment that could strengthen and stabilize insurance markets. Sens. Lamar Alexander […]
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How Elimination of Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments Changed Consumer Enrollment in State-Based Marketplaces
State health policymakers are eagerly waiting to see if Congress’ omnibus budget bill released this week will attempt to stabilize Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance markets by reinstating ACA’s cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments. An early proposal by US Sen. Lamar Alexander would fund the cost-sharing subsidies, which reduce a family’s out-of-pocket health care costs, retroactively […]
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