At 4th hearing, with stakes high for 18 million, emphasizes Democrats and Republicans will have to give to reach a compromise
"For seven years, hardly a civil word was spoken between
The committee met to hear testimony from a state insurance commissioner, an insurer, a patient advocate and doctors on what could happen to patients if
Alexander continued: "During our first three hearings, three themes emerged that represent a working consensus for stabilizing premiums in the individual market for 2018. First, is Congressional approval of continued funding of the cost-sharing payments, for a specific period of time, that reduce co-pays and deductibles for many low-income Americans on the exchanges. Second, senators from both sides of the aisle suggested expanding the so-called 'copper plan' already in the law so anyone--not just those 29 or under--could purchase a lower premium, higher deductible plan.
"The third - advocated by state insurance commissioners, governors, and senators from both sides of the aisle - is to give states more flexibility in the approval of coverage, choices, and prices for health insurance. Most of the discussion about flexibility has centered on amending the section 1332 state innovation waiver, because it is already in the Affordable Care Act, including commonsense suggestions to improve and speed up the process to make the 1332 waivers easier for states to use."
"At Tuesday's hearing on state flexibility, witnesses discussed how to amend the 1332 waiver to give states the authority to offer a larger variety of health insurance plans with varying benefits. Several witnesses suggested that 'actuarial equivalency' is a useful way to do that. Governor
Alexander concluded: "I want a result that gives states flexibility in the approval of coverage, choices, and prices for health insurance. I simply won't be able to persuade the Republican majority in the
The committee met last Wednesday to hear from state insurance commissioners, last Thursday to hear from governors, and on Tuesday to hear from state flexibility experts.
Alexander's full prepared remarks here:http://senatorlamaralexander.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d82408%26JDG%3c%3a8%3e%2f%3b5A%26SDG%3c90%3a.&RE=MC&RI=5687037&Preview=False&DistributionActionID=9643&Action=Follow+Link
Read this original document at: https://www.help.senate.gov/chair/newsroom/press/alexander-if-we-want-to-protect-patients-congress-needs-to-get-a-result-to-help-states-stabilize-markets-limit-premium-increases
Senate HELP Committee holds final public hearing with health care stakeholders on steps to stabilize individual insurance market
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