ACA Round-Up: Graham-Cassidy ’ s Demise, Pressures On 2018 Open Enrollment, And New HHS Draft Strategic Plan

On September 26, 2017, the Republican Senate leadership announced that the Senate would not hold a vote on the Graham-Cassidy bill, the last attempt to repeal or amend the Affordable Care Act under the 2017 budget resolution. After Senator Collins announced that she would not support the legislation, joining Senators Paul and McCain who had already announced their opposition, it became clear that it lacked the 50 votes necessary to pass. There is some discussion of trying again to address health reform in the 2018 budget resolution, which would otherwise be devoted solely to changes in the tax code. CMS Decisions On Renewals, Maintenance Further Constrict An Already-Short 2018 Open Enrollment Period On September 26, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, announced an enforcement safe harbor with respect to renewal notices for insurers in the non-grandfathered individual market for the 2018 open enrollment period. The guaranteed renewability requirement of the Affordable Care Act requires insurers in the individual market to provide a notice to policyholders for whom they are renewing coverage informing them that their coverage is being renewed and that they have the option to continue the coverage or choose another insurer. This notice must generally be provided before the first day of the next open enrollment period, which this year will be November 1, 2017. This notice is supposed to disclose the premium at which the coverage will be renewed. Continued uncert...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Following the ACA Insurance and Coverage ACA repeal and replace freedom of religion guaranteed issue and renewal open enrollment period Source Type: blogs