Statement on CMS Proposed Rule to Increase Patients’ Health Insurance Choices for 2018

CHICAGO, Feb. 15 -- The American Hospital Association issued the following statement by Executive Vice President Tom Nickels on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed rule to increase patients' health insurance choices for 2018:

"The Health Insurance Marketplaces continue to face challenges related to plan pricing and participation, putting consumer access to coverage at risk. The AHA has long advocated for measures to stabilize the insurance marketplaces, and we appreciate that the Administration signaled its commitment to working to achieve this goal.

"We believe many of today's proposals have the potential to make participation in the marketplaces more appealing to insurers and consumers, such as allowing insurers to offer less-expensive options.

"However, we will be reviewing them in more detail to ensure that they both improve consumer access to coverage and maintain important consumer protections including maintaining access to essential community providers. We are committed to working with the Administration to protect this vital coverage source for consumers."

[Category: Health Care]

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