Despite Commitments from Former HHS Secretary Tom Price, Trump Administration Has Not Approved 1332 Waivers for Reinsurance That Would Lower Americans’ Health Costs
"The inability of the
Wyden's letter comes as reports indicate the Trump administration is not following through on its pledge to help states quickly receive approval on their State Innovation Waiver (Section 1332) applications for reinsurance, a tool that brings down premiums for everyone by helping pay for the costliest patients. Former HHS Secretary Price said in March of this year that the administration would work quickly to approve 1332 waivers, which Wyden authored as a part of the Affordable Care Act, like
The full letter can be found here https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/101017%20Wyden%20Letter%20to%20HHS%20Treasury%20on%20OK%201332.pdf and below.
Dear Acting Secretary Wright and Secretary Mnuchin:
I write today regarding the Administration's failure to approve
As the author of Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), I am monitoring this Administration's waiver approval process closely. I have been concerned that the Administration may go too far and allow states to gut popular patient protections, but I agreed with former Secretary Price's emphasis on using 1332 waivers for reinsurance. Reinsurance is a commonsense way to help consumers by lowering premiums. I am, however, troubled by the Departments' inability to deliver on this commitment to states.
After months of touting a desire to work with states, your Departments have failed to provide
Public statements and documents indicated your Departments were committed to working with states to quickly approve state waivers. These statements led
In light of your Departments' recent failure to approve
1. Regarding the sufficiency of
1. Was
2. Did Oklahoma follow the instructions included on the
3. Did the Departments provide technical assistance prior to
4. How did
1. Regarding federal communication with state officials:
1. During the preliminary review period and the subsequent approval process, how frequently did federal officials communicate with state officials in
2. As noted above,
3. When did your Departments determine that you would not be able to approve
1. The Departments are currently considering two other 1332 waiver applications. Given the concerns being raised about the process used for the
1. Do you anticipate other states, such as
2. What assurances will be made to other states who may now be wary of committing their resources to development a waiver application?
If either of your staffs has questions, please have them contact
Read this original document at: https://www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-members-news/wyden-demands-answers-on-hhs-failure-to-approve-state-reinsurance-waivers
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