Last week, President Obama announced a compromise in the dispute over whether to require religious organizations to provide contraception insurance, HHS issued regulations requiring health plans to describe coverage in terms that will be understandable to consumers, and CMS rejected California’s plan to require cost sharing from Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
AT THE AGENCIES
On Friday (2/10), President Obama announced a compromise in the dispute over whether to require full contraception insurance coverage for female employees at religiously affiliated institutions. President Obama said that no religious institution will have to provide the services directly. Catholic bishops say they remain opposed to the requirement that insurers are required to provide free birth control, even if religiously affiliated are not forced to pay for it.
On Thursday (2/9), the Obama administration issued regulations requiring health plans to describe what they cover in clear, standardized language that will be understandable to consumers beginning this fall. Specifically, consumers must be provided with a short, easy-to-understand Summary of Benefits and Coverage and a list of definitions (called the "Uniform Glossary") that explains terms commonly used in health insurance coverage such as "deductible" and "co-payment."
On Monday (2/6), CMS rejected California's plan to require Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program) beneficiaries to take on copayments for physician visits and prescription drug purchases. The copay proposal was passed as part of California’s state budget proposal from last year to save the state $511 million annually. The acting CMS Administrator, Marilyn Tavenner, said that though she supports the "goal of promoting cost-effective use of health care services," federal law prohibits states from requiring copays for medical insurance programs that assist low-income residents.
A final rule governing health insurance exchanges is in the Office of Management and Budget for review. The proposed rule would give states flexibility in designing exchanges and would specify requirements health insurers must meet in order to offer "qualified" health plans in the exchanges.
IN THE COURTS
National Press Club's "Newsmakers" series hosted state attorneys general Martha Coakley (Mass.) and Ken Cuccinelli (Va.) as they debated the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The attorneys general addressed the individual mandate, the tax basis, the general welfare provision, expansion of Medicaid, and severability.
IN THE STATES
On Friday (2/10), the Oregon Joint Ways and Means Committee approved a Senate bill to allow the state to advance plans to overhaul its Medicaid program. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill on Tuesday (2/14).
THIRD PARTIES
The eHealth Initiative's accountable care council compiled a report, which lists the key attributes needed for a successful health information technology structure in the accountable care organizational model. Among the items in the list are: the health IT infrastructure must enable care coordination and collaboration; the health IT infrastructure must enable and support the comprehensive and systematic collection, storage management, and exchange of secure personal health information; and include billing and collection technology.
UnitedHealth Group Inc., the largest U.S. health insurer, is overhauling its fee system for medical providers. The insurer announced this week that it will begin considering quality measures in setting hospital and doctor compensation rather than rewarding them for more care but not necessarily better care.
The Commonwealth Fund announced a new study to track a fixed group of low and moderate-income adults over the next two years in order to monitor the groups’ access to health care under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
THIS WEEK
On Monday (2/13) at 9:00 a.m. at the JW Marriott, AcademyHealth held its National Health Policy Conference.
On Monday (2/13) at 11:30 a.m. in the Lehrman Auditorium, The Heritage Foundation hosted an event titled "Obamacare Tramples on Religious Liberty: Why We Shouldn't Be Surprised."
On Tuesday (2/14) starting at 8:00 a.m. and Wednesday (2/15) at 8:30 a.m. at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the American Medical Association will hold a conference titled "National Advocacy Conference." The agenda can be found here.
On Wednesday (2/15) at 12:00 p.m. at the Barbara Jordan Conference Center, the Kaiser Family Foundation will hold a discussion titled "Quality Care for Less Money: Can Regional Successes Go National?"
To view our compilation of recent health care reform implementation news, click here.