Senator Collins: Congress Must Take Action Now to Significantly Reduce the Cost of Health Insurance for Millions of Americans
Senator
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"Every study has shown our bills will make health insurance more affordable,"
Health care experts at management consulting firm Oliver Wyman released an analysis last week comparing this proposal to what people in the individual market will pay if
Background on the proposal:
*Meaningful permanent flexibility for states in revised Section 1332 Affordable Care Act State Innovation Waivers.
*3 years funding of invisible high risk pools/reinsurance at
*Authorizes new copper plans that will allow anyone to buy catastrophic coverage.
*3 years funding of cost-sharing reduction subsidies. Helps those who are below 250% of the poverty level who receive government assistance to help them pay for their deductibles and co-pays.
*Includes protections so that federal funding directly benefits Americans, not insurance companies.
*Requires the HHS secretary to issue regulations allowing insurers to sell plans across state lines.
*Does not change Affordable Care Act essential benefits requirements or guarantee of insurance for an individual with pre-existing conditions.
*Includes the traditional Hyde protections that have applied to appropriations bills since 1976 and that apply to Medicaid, Medicare,
*Requires transparency for consumers purchasing short-term limited duration insurance.
Go to: for the text of the proposed legislation.
“Combating the Opioid Crisis: Prevention and Public Health Solutions” (Part One), including H.R.449, the “Synthetic Drug Awareness Act”; H.R.5002, the “Advancing Cutting Edge Research Act”; H.R.5009, “Jessie’s Law”; H.R.5102, the “Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act”; H.R.5140, the “Tribal Addiction and Recovery Act”; H.R.5176, the “Preventing Overdoses While in Emergency Rooms Act”; H.R.5197, the “Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department Act”; H.R.5261, the “Treatment, Education, and Community Help to Combat Addiction Act”; H.R.5272, the “Reinforcing Evidence-Based Standards Under Law in Treating Substance Abuse Act”; the “Poison Center Network Enhancement Act”; a bill to authorize the HHS secretary to conduct programs to address the usage of illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl; the “Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Diseases Act”; the “Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act”; a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director to carry out certain activities to prevent controlled substances overdoses; a bill to support the peer support specialist workforce; a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the HHS secretary to issue guidance with respect to the accelerated approval of certain drugs; a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of certain drugs; a bill to direct the HHS secretary to update or issue guidance addressing alternative methods for data collection on opioid sparing and inclusion of such data in product labeling; a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require improved packaging and disposal methods with respect to certain drugs; a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to post-approval study requirements for certain controlled substances; and a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize the HHS secretary to consider the potential for misuse and abuse when determining whether to approve certain drugs.
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