High-Risk Pools as Fallback for High-Cost Patients Require New Rules January 23, 2017 Perspective In this Wall Street Journal Think Tank column, Drew Altman examines how Republicans would “split the risk pools” between the healthier and the sick in their Affordable Care Act replacement plans, using state high risk pools as a fallback for higher cost patients, and examines the steps that would be necessary to make them effective based on prior experience in the states.
Private Contracts Between Doctors and Their Medicare Patients: Current Law, Proposed Changes and Implications for Beneficiaries January 23, 2017 News Release Under current law, physicians may choose to privately contract with their Medicare patients, though very few do. Under such arrangements, doctors can charge their Medicare patients any amount they determine is appropriate for their services rather than be bound to Medicare’s set fees and balance billing limits, so long as…
Data Note: Estimated Medicaid Savings in the House Budget Resolution from March 2016 January 24, 2017 Issue Brief While the current Budget Resolution under consideration will set the framework for a repeal of the ACA, the Budget Resolution that passed in March 2016 provides insight into other Medicaid cuts that could be considered by Congress later this year. This Data Note examines proposed reductions in federal Medicaid funding under the March 2016 House Budget Resolution.
JAMA Forum: What Might an ACA Replacement Plan Look Like? January 24, 2017 Perspective Larry Levitt’s January 2017 post explains the logistics of a “repeal and delay” approach to the Affordable Care Act, and outlines key elements of a proposed replacement plan from Rep. Tom Price, who is President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. The post is now available at The JAMA Forum.
10 Essential Facts About Medicare’s Financial Outlook February 2, 2017 Issue Brief Medicare, the nation’s federal health insurance program for 57 million people age 65 and over and younger people with disabilities, often plays a major role in federal health policy and budget discussions. Medicare is likely to be back on the federal policy agenda as Congress debates repealing and replacing the ACA, and also if policymakers turn their attention to reducing entitlement spending as part of efforts to reduce the growing federal budget deficit and debt. This issue brief presents 10 facts and figures about Medicare’s financial status today and the outlook for the future.
Do You Have the Facts About Medicare’s Financial Outlook for the Future? February 2, 2017 News Release Medicare is likely to be back on the federal policy agenda this year as Congress and President Trump pursue repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, and potentially consider options to reduce federal spending. When talking about Medicare, the nation’s federal health insurance program for 57 million people age 65…
Compare Proposals to Replace The Affordable Care Act September 18, 2017 Interactive President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have committed to repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). How do their replacement proposals compare to the ACA? How do they compare to each other? Includes the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson amendment (introduced 9/13/2017) as well as other proposals from key members of Congress.
The Republican Health-care Plan the Country Isn’t Debating February 9, 2017 Perspective In this Washington Post op-ed, Drew Altman discusses how Republicans’ ideas to change Medicaid and Medicare and repeal the Affordable Care Act would fundamentally change the federal role in health, calling it: the biggest change in health we are NOT debating.
Pre-ACA Market Practices Provide Lessons for ACA Replacement Approaches February 16, 2017 Issue Brief This brief examines insurance practices from before the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) and highlights challenges in providing access and stable coverage for people, along with issues that any ACA replacement plan will need to address.
Key Issues in Children’s Health Coverage February 15, 2017 Issue Brief This brief reviews children’s coverage today and examines what is at stake for children’s coverage in upcoming debates around CHIP funding, repeal and replacement of the ACA, and Medicaid restructuring.