CHIR Welcomes New Staff
We are delighted to welcome Sloane Daly as a Research Assistant.
Posts tagged with: CHIR
CHIR Welcomes New Faculty
Second Verse, Same as the First: Senate Reconciliation Language Failes to Fix Paperwork Burdens, Other Barriers to Marketplace Coverage
Indiana’s Extraordinary Legislative Session Exemplifies How Incremental Efforts Can Improve Health Care Affordability
May Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
The Reconciliation Bill Eliminates Long-Standing State Flexibility to Operate Marketplaces and Regulate Private Health Insurance
Federal Efforts Ostensibly Aimed at Marketplace “Fraud” Ignore Obvious Strategies to Counter Broker Misconduct
Congress’ Proposed Paperwork Requirements Could Leave New Families, Laid-off Workers, and Self-Employed Without Health Coverage
New Administration Plans to Reinstate Cuts to Funding for ACA Outreach and Enrollment Assistance
Can States Harness Market Power to Rein In Health Care Costs?
Blog Posts:
CHIR Welcomes New Faculty
We are delighted to welcome two new faculty members: Madison Harden and Abigail Knapp.
Second Verse, Same as the First: Senate Reconciliation Language Failes to Fix Paperwork Burdens, Other Barriers to Marketplace Coverage
With the passage of H.R.1, the House of Representatives’ version of the budget reconciliation bill...
Indiana’s Extraordinary Legislative Session Exemplifies How Incremental Efforts Can Improve Health Care Affordability
While Indiana lawmakers have been working to reduce health care costs for commercial health insuranc...
May Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
In May, we welcomed spring blooms and warm weather, while staying engaged with the latest health pol...
The Reconciliation Bill Eliminates Long-Standing State Flexibility to Operate Marketplaces and Regulate Private Health Insurance
The budget reconciliation bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives would eliminate much of t...
Federal Efforts Ostensibly Aimed at Marketplace “Fraud” Ignore Obvious Strategies to Counter Broker Misconduct
The proposed Marketplace Integrity rule and House-passed budget bill purportedly aim to curb ACA fra...
Congress’ Proposed Paperwork Requirements Could Leave New Families, Laid-off Workers, and Self-Employed Without Health Coverage
The Senate will soon consider the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” that would make changes to Marketpla...
New Administration Plans to Reinstate Cuts to Funding for ACA Outreach and Enrollment Assistance
By Rachel Swindle, Jalisa Clark, and Justin Giovannelli One of the first actions by the Centers for ...
Can States Harness Market Power to Rein In Health Care Costs?
As U.S. health care spending continues to spiral higher, states are using a variety of tools to push...
A New Rule to Limit ACA Enrollment Periods May Deter Sign-Ups and Worsen Risk Pools
Recent proposals from the Trump administration and Congress would shorten or eliminate the windows o...
Third-Party Administrators – The Middlemen Of Self-Funded Health Insurance
Pharmacy benefit managers have received significant public attention for their exploitative, cost in...
Considerations for federal agencies tasked with improving health plan price transparency data
While the health plan price transparency data available under current guidance and enforcement have ...
Health Insurance Transitions For Young People With Diabetes Can Be Life Threatening
As Congress debates policies that would disenroll millions of people from both Medicaid and marketpl...
The Sleeper Provision in the Reconciliation Bill That Could Hobble the ACA Marketplaces
An obscure provision in the U.S. House reconciliation bill could have major consequences for the Aff...
Death by Slow Strangulation: New Tactics in Longstanding Efforts to Repeal the Affordable Care Act
The U.S. House of Representatives is poised to take up legislation that, if enacted, would be tantam...
Stakeholder Perspectives on CMS’ Proposed “Marketplace Integrity” Rule: Consumer and Patient Advocate Organizations
The Trump administration’s proposed “Marketplace Integrity” rule has generated almost 26,000 p...
Stakeholder Perspectives on CMS’ Proposed “Marketplace Integrity” Rule: State Insurance Departments and Marketplaces
The Trump administration’s proposed “Marketplace Integrity” rule has generated almost 26,000 p...
Stakeholder Perspectives on CMS’ Proposed “Marketplace Integrity” Rule: Health Care Providers
The Trump administration’s proposed “Marketplace Integrity” rule has generated almost 26,000 p...
Stakeholder Perspectives on CMS’ Proposed “Marketplace Integrity” Rule: Health Insurers and Brokers
The Trump administration's proposed "Marketplace Integrity" rule has generated almost 26,000 public ...
Dental Coverage Through the Marketplace: A 2024 Snapshot of Enrollment, Market Participation and Premiums
A new CHIR report offers a snapshot of the dental coverage landscape on the ACA Marketplaces in 2025...
Old Diseases, New Threats: Are You Still Protected – and What Will Your Health Plan Cover?
With infectious diseases such as measles on the rise, many Americans are wondering what they can do ...
March Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
In March, we anticipated sunshine and warmer days while keeping up with the latest health policy res...
In Latest Policy Change for DACA Recipients, Trump Administration Proposes Elimination of Marketplace Insurance Eligibility
In recently proposed regulatory changes to marketplace coverage, the Trump Administration intends to...
State Flexibility To Add Adult Dental Care to Essential Health Benefits: An Update on State Action
CMS recently finalized a change in the 2025 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters, granting state...
Federal Rule Gives Regulators Enhanced Tools to Ensure Equitable Access to Behavioral Health Care
Last fall, the Biden Administration finalized a rule updating standards for the Mental Health Parity...
CHIR Welcomes New Faculty and Staff
We are delighted to welcome three new members to the CHIR team: Karen Handorf, Julia Burleson, and A...
New Executive Order Outlines Next Steps For Health Care Price Transparency
In February, the Trump administration issued an executive order outlining steps for federal agencies...
A blast from the past: Dusting off ACA Section 1333 compacts
Peter Nelson, the new director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO...
Here’s Something to Celebrate: The Affordable Care Act Just Turned 15!
On March 23, 2025, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In this post...
The Corporate Transformation of Health Care: Takeaways from the CHIR Webinar Series
Over the last two months, CHIR hosted a three-part webinar series about the corporate transformation...
February Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
In February we stayed out of the cold and bundled up with the latest in health policy research. We r...
State Spotlight: New Massachusetts Law Enhances Oversight of Private Equity in Health Care
Massachusetts recently enacted a law to increase transparency and oversight of private equity in hea...
Bringing Balance to the Market: A Roadmap for Improving Health Insurance Affordability Through Rate Review
High and rising healthcare costs in the U.S. are driven largely by escalating hospital prices, fuele...
Bipartisan Reports Indicate It’s Time to Take Action Against Private Equity in Health Care
Private equity is not new to the health care sector, but recent growth in private equity investment ...
January Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
Since the snow shows no sign of stopping, we might as well stay cozy inside and read up on the lates...
State Spotlight: The Use Of Provider-Based Reference Pricing In Oklahoma And South Carolina
Like other employer health plans across the commercial insurance market, state employee health plans...
Implementing the No Surprises Act: Updated Complaint Data
The No Surprises Act (NSA) has largely succeeded in protecting consumers from surprise medical bills...
November Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
In November, CHIR was thankful for the latest health policy research. We read about charity care pro...
New York Legislature Seeks to Control Outpatient Spending through Site-Neutral Payment and Rate Cap Proposal
A new proposal in New York State seeks to reduce rising outpatient care costs by implementing site-n...
Biden Administration Proposal to Improve Access to Free Preventive Services Faces Uncertain Future
The Biden Administration has proposed a rule to expand coverage of preventive services, including ov...
Enhancing Essential Health Benefits: How States Are Updating Benchmark Plans to Improve Coverage
The Affordable Care Act mandates that health plans in the individual and small-group markets cover e...
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D: A New Compendium of Policy Proposals
In 2023, for the first time, more than half of Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in Medicare Adva...
Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Provide an Early Opportunity for Addressing Affordability Issues
Enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) have significantly reduced health insurance premiums and expande...
October Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
The leaves are falling but the latest health policy research is evergreen! Last month we read about ...
The Work Goes On: Preserving Equitable Access to Affordable, High Quality Health Insurance in Challenging Times
The 2024 election results will require concerted and aggressive efforts to preserve gains in insuran...
September Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
While the weather may be cooling down, the research is not! This month we read about Medicare Advant...
CHIR Expert Testifies About Facility Fees Before Texas House Insurance Committee
CHIR expert Christine Monahan recently testified before the Texas House Insurance Committee regardin...
How Oregon’s Merger Review Law Combats Consolidation and What Other States Can Learn From It
Since the early 1990s, health care provider consolidation in states like Oregon has led to higher p...
August Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
More hot days mean more hot research! This month we read about the growing divergence between Medica...
Taking a Look at California’s Program to Assist People Losing Medi-Cal Enroll in Marketplace Coverage
A recently enacted law creates a streamlined pathway to health insurance for individuals who are fou...
Unpacking the Unwinding: Medicaid to Marketplace Coverage Transitions
As Medicaid unwinding draws to a close, millions of people have had to find new health coverage opti...
2023 Data From The Independent Dispute Resolution Process: Select Providers Win Big
The No Surprises Act (NSA) protects consumers from unexpected medical bills, with disputes between p...
Biden Administration Proposes Rule To Ban Medical Debt From Credit Reporting
In response to widespread concerns about the impact of medical debt, the Consumer Financial Protecti...
Enforcing Mental Health Parity: State Options to Improve Access to Care
The 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) is the primary federal law protectin...
July Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
Last month CHIR stayed cool indoors to catch up on the latest in health policy research. In July, we...
New Georgetown CHIR Report Examines State Reforms of Prior Authorization
Health insurers use of prior authorization appears to be on the rise. A recent report by CHIR resear...
State And Federal Efforts To Improve Ownership Transparency
While there is some movement toward improved health care provider ownership transparency at the fede...
June Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
Last month CHIR soaked up the sun and the latest in health policy research. This month we read studi...
How States Can Use Tax and Unemployment Filings to Sign People Up for Health Insurance
Easy-enrollment programs offer states an efficient, low-cost mechanism for connecting residents with...
New Nationwide Data on Outpatient Facility Fee Reforms
As hospitals and health systems expand their ownership and control of ambulatory care practices, the...
New Georgetown CHIR Report on the Federal and State Tools for Responding to Provider Consolidation and Recommendations for Strengthening Them
Over the past 30 years, hospitals and physician practices have been merging at an accelerated pace, ...
Understanding Hospital Financing: Takeaways from the CHIR Webinar Series
Over the last several months, CHIR hosted the webinar series "Understanding Hospital Financing." CHI...
May Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
The days are heating up and so is the summer research! This month we read about the effects of healt...
Facility Fee State Legislative Roundup: 2024 Session
With more outpatient care being delivered in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) than in previou...
Raise the Bar: State-Based Marketplaces Using Quality Tools to Enhance Health Equity
In a new post for the Commonwealth Fund's To The Point blog, CHIR's Jalisa Clark and Christine H. Mo...
Improving Health Care Competition: Federal and State Perspectives
On Tuesday, May 21st, Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms held the final of t...
Final Rule Rescinds Trump-Era Association Health Plans
The US Department of Labor recently finalized regulations governing the formation of Association Hea...
The Final 2025 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters: Implications for States
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have recently finalized rules and standards governing h...
Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance Final Rule: Considerations for States
Recent federal rules will limit the marketing and use of short-term limited duration health insuranc...
Consumer Protections Meet Political Pushback: Lessons from States Studying Facility Fees
A growing number of states are taking action to reform facility fee billing practices, but oppositio...
April Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
April showers bring…cozy rainy days to catch up on the latest health policy research. This month w...
CHIR Welcomes Two New Faculty Members, Amy Killelea and Leila Sullivan
CHIR is delighted to welcome two new faculty members: Amy Killelea and Leila Sullivan.
Ensuring Access to Behavioral Health Providers
Lack of access to care for behavioral health conditions is a longstanding issue. In a recent post fo...
Evidence On Private Equity Suggests That Containing Costs And Improving Outcomes May Go Hand-In-Hand
A growing body of evidence suggests private equity investments in health care have raised provider p...
State Efforts To Improve Price Transparency
Federal regulations require hospitals and insurers to publish negotiated prices. States are also pla...
Final 2025 Payment Notice: Marketplace Standards And Insurance Reforms
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recently released a final rule setting standards for ...
Biden Administration Finalizes Limits On Junk Health Plans
Last month the Biden administration finalized rules establishing new standards and disclosure requir...
Health Savings Accounts: Robin Hood in Reverse
As another tax filing season comes to a close, millions of Americans have reduced their taxable inco...
March Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
Thanks to daylight savings in March, CHIR had more time to keep up with the latest health policy res...
CHIR Experts Testify About Facility Fees Before Maryland General Assembly
Last month, CHIR experts Rachel Swindle and Karen Davenport shared findings from CHIR’s research o...
Stakeholders Weigh in on a Proposal that Could Expand Adult Dental Coverage
The final Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters for plan year 2025 is expected soon. The propose...
States Expand Access to Affordable Private Coverage for Immigrant Populations
In the United States, immigrants are disproportionately likely to be uninsured. This disparity stems...
State Options for Making Hospital Financial Assistance Programs More Accessible
According to recent estimates, almost 100 million people have debt because of medical or dental bill...
February Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
In February, CHIR used Leap Day to catch up on the latest health policy research. This month we read...
No Surprises Act: Exploring the Impact on Employees, Employers and Costs
On March 7, CHIR hosted the second event in a series of policy briefings on the future of employer-s...
Report Shows Dispute Resolution Process in No Surprises Act Favors Providers
Last month, the Biden administration reported on independent dispute resolution (IDR) cases resolved...
Health Care Sharing Ministries Leave Consumers with Unpaid Medical Claims
Last year, Colorado became the first state to require comprehensive data from all health care sharin...
Stakeholder Perspectives on CMS’s 2025 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters: State Insurance Departments and Marketplaces
In November, the Biden administration released the proposed Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameter...
Stakeholder Perspectives on CMS’s 2025 Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters: Consumer Advocates
The Biden administration will soon finalize its annual rulemaking for the Affordable Care Act Market...
December–January Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
This winter, CHIR curled up with some good reads: the latest in health policy research. In December ...
CHIR Welcomes Two New Faculty Members, Stacey Pogue and Kennah Watts
CHIR is delighted to welcome two new faculty members: Stacey Pogue and Kennah Watts.
Dental Coverage under the ACA: Marketplace Rule Would Give States the Opportunity to Expand Coverage
Dental care is an important element of comprehensive health care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requ...
State Public Option Plans Are Making Progress on Reducing Consumer Costs
States remain motivated to adopt reforms that improve affordability and expand access to coverage fo...
Proposed Rule Would Roll Back Expansion Of Association Health Plans
Last month, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed a rule rescinding a Trump-era regulation that expa...
Step-by-Step: Congressional Proposals Could Help Unlock Information Key to Curbing U.S. Health Care Spending
In recent years, outpatient care has contributed considerably to growth in U.S. health care spending...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Wrapping Up Open Enrollment
Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces is coming to a close. In most states, J...
Implementing the No Surprises Act: What We Know from Early Complaint Data
The No Surprises Act (NSA) provides comprehensive protections from many of the most prevalent forms ...
Proposed 2025 Payment Rule: Marketplace Standards And Insurance Reforms
Last month, the Biden administration proposed changes to Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace polic...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: The Risks of Buying Coverage Outside the Marketplace
As 2023 comes to a close, it’s time to think about health insurance for 2024. Consumers searching ...
In An Era Of Premium And Provider Price Increases, State Employee Health Plans Target Key Cost Drivers
It's open enrollment season for many employer health plans, and the rising cost of care may increase...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Health Coverage for Small Business Owners and Employees
The Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces are a critical source of health insurance for small busines...
The Impact of Unions on Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
In just the first eight months of 2023, over 323,000 workers engaged in a labor action against their...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Who is Eligible for Marketplace Coverage?
November 1 marked the first day of the Marketplace Open Enrollment Period in most states. CHIR recen...
Facility Fees 101: What is all the Fuss About?
Consumers are facing higher out-of-pocket costs when they receive outpatient care due to hospital ...
State Health Equity Initiatives Confront Decades of Racism in the Insurance Industry
As another Marketplace Open Enrollment Period begins, millions of Americans will turn to insurance b...
Uneven Ground: Differences in Language Access Across State-Based Marketplaces
The annual Marketplace Open Enrollment Period is just around the corner. Enrolling in health insuran...
September Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
As we fall into autumn weather, CHIR continues to keep up with the latest health policy research. In...
Policy Experts Discuss Strategies to Keep Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Afloat
On October 3, CHIR held the first in a series of in-person policy briefings on the future of employe...
State Protections Against Medical Debt: A Look at Policies Across the U.S.
Medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the United States. Though federal law pro...
CHIR Welcomes New Faculty, Billy Dering
CHIR is excited to welcome Billy Dering, M.P.H., as our newest faculty member.
Reforming Abusive Billing Practices, One Step At A Time
As hospitals expand and take over outpatient care settings, consumers are facing additional charges ...
August Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
As summer was winding down, CHIR was reading up on the latest health policy research. In August, we ...
CHIR Welcomes New Faculty, Nadia Stovicek
CHIR is delighted to welcome Nadia Stovicek (she/her), M.P.P., as our newest faculty member.
The Perfect Storm: Misleading Marketing of Limited Benefit Products Continues as Millions Losing Medicaid Search for New Coverage
A massive coverage transition is underway for millions of people who have relied on Medicaid through...
Surprise Billing: Volume Of Cases Using Independent Dispute Resolution Continues Higher Than Anticipated
The No Surprises Act is largely working as intended to protect patients from unexpected medical bill...
July Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
CHIR’s summer reading list includes the latest health policy literature. In July, we read about th...
Early Rate Filings Show Premium Increases, Rising Costs of Care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has published proposed rate changes for 2024 Marketplac...
New CHIR Case Study Examines Policies to Expand Primary Care Access in West Virginia
In a new case study, published in collaboration with the Milbank Memorial Fund, CHIR researchers exa...
An Historic Event: A Summary of CMS’s Inaugural Health Equity Conference
Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held the first ever CMS Health Equity...
Administration Takes Action To Limit Junk Health Insurance
The Biden administration has proposed a new rule limiting insurance products that are largely exempt...
June Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
As we splashed into summer, CHIR soaked up the latest health policy research along with some rays. I...
Competition and Transparency: The Pathway Forward for a Stronger Health Care Market
The U.S. House of Representatives Education and Workforce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on heal...
May Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
April showers bring May flowers, and May was abloom with health policy research. Last month, we read...
CHIR Welcomes New Faculty, Hanan Rakine
CHIR is thrilled to welcome Hanan Rakine, M.P.H., as our newest faculty member.
More Than a Website: Should the Federal Government Establish Additional Minimum Standards for the ACA’s Health Insurance Marketplaces?
The Affordable Care Act established health insurance Marketplaces to facilitate enrollment in compre...
April Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
For our monthly research roundup, we reviewed studies on a public option proposal for California, ho...
States Move Forward with Public Option Programs, but Differ in How They Select Insurance Carriers
Washington, Colorado, and Nevada are partnering with private health insurance carriers to offer new ...
March Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
Winter is finally over, and health policy research is in full bloom. In March, we read about dispari...
Providers Challenge Payments In ‘No Surprises’ Act Dispute Resolution Process
Under the No Surprises Act, consumers are held harmless beyond in-network cost sharing when they rec...
Coverage of Preventive Services Without Cost Sharing in Jeopardy as Texas Court Strikes Down ACA Protection
At the end of March, a federal judge in Texas partially invalidated one of the ACA’s most popular ...
Biden’s Budget Sets Up a Spending Showdown, With ACA Subsidies in the Crosshairs
President Biden released his Fiscal Year 2024 budget earlier this month, outlining the administratio...
Questionable Conduct: Allegations Against Insurers Acting as Third-Party Administrators
Nearly half of U.S. residents are enrolled in employer-sponsored health insurance. Many of these pla...
Proposed Rules on the ACA’s Frequently Litigated “Birth Control Mandate” Aim to Close Gaps in Coverage
Last month, the Biden administration proposed new rules to restore access to free contraceptive serv...
February Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
Along with “Health Policy Valentines,” February brought a host of new health policy research. Th...
A Progress Report on Washington’s Public Option Plans
Washington State’s "public option" program is now in its third year. After initial cost and access...
Updates to the Navigator Resource Guide Provide Information for People Transitioning from Medicaid to Private Health Insurance
After a three-year pause on Medicaid redeterminations, states can begin the process of removing resi...
COVID “Long Haulers” Still Struggle with Coverage and Care
The COVID-19 public health emergency expires this spring, bringing an end to pandemic-related fundin...
January Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
Welcome to another year of health policy research. In the first month of 2023, CHIR reviewed studies...
Implementing the Family Glitch Fix on the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces
A record number of people have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s ma...
The ACA’s Preventive Services Benefit Is in Jeopardy: What Can States Do to Preserve Access?
A federal judge is poised to gut one of the most popular provisions of the Affordable Care Act’s (...
ERISA 101: The United States’ Hands-Off Approach to Regulating Employer Health Plans
Amidst growing health care costs, adequate health insurance coverage is increasingly unaffordable fo...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Post-enrollment Issues
The open enrollment period has officially ended in most states. After signing up for 2023 coverage, ...
December Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
Happy New Year! The holiday season may be over, but health policy researchers continue to bestow gif...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: The End of Open Enrollment
In most states, January 15 marks the end of the open enrollment period for 2023 coverage. While taki...
New CHIR Case Study Examines Policies to Expand Primary Care Access in Rural Arkansas
Primary care is a critical tool to prevent illness and death and improve equitable distribution of h...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: What to Know About Off-marketplace Plans
Although the deadline to enroll in a marketplace plan beginning January 1 has passed in most states,...
As Ground Ambulance Committee Begins Its Work, New Report on Balance Billing by Ground Ambulance Providers Highlights a Gap in the No Surprises Act
On December 9, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the membership of the Adviso...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Coverage of Reproductive Health Care
In most states, it’s the last week to sign up for marketplace plan that begins January 1. The Affo...
November Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
CHIR had a lot to be thankful for this November, including new health policy research. For the lates...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Small Businesses
The marketplaces are critical source of health insurance for small businesses, including small busin...
The Erosion of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance and Potential Policy Responses
Employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) covers 160 million Americans, but the adequacy of these plans is ...
Congressional Proposals for a Federal Public Health Insurance Option
Democrats in Congress have put forward several proposals to create a public health insurance option ...
Bridging the Gap: Oregon’s Proposal to Ease Coverage Transitions at the End of Public Health Emergency
At the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, millions of people will lose Medicaid as states ...
Value for Whom? HHS Office of Civil Rights Seeks Input on the Impact of Payers’ Value Assessments on Health Equity
As health care costs continue to rise, stakeholders are looking to innovations in provider payments ...
New and Improved Navigator Resource Guide Answers Common Enrollment Questions and Reflects Policy Changes for 2023
The tenth open enrollment season for the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace is in full swing. With ...
State-Based Marketplace Outreach Strategies for Boosting Health Plan Enrollment of the Uninsured
The tenth annual open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces is upon us. In ...
CHIR Welcomes New Staff Member Kristen Ukeomah
CHIR is delighted to welcome a new staff member to our team: Research Associate Kristen Ukeomah.
The GOP’s Plans for Health Care if they Take Control of Congress: A Mixed Bag for Consumers
The midterm elections are upon us, and most voters view health care as a “very important” issue....
New CHIR Report Examines Federal-State Partnership in No Surprises Act Implementation
The No Surprises Act (NSA) aims to protect consumers facing surprise medical bills after receiving c...
New Georgetown Report Reviews State Efforts to Enforce Mental Health Parity
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) aims to remove insurance-related obstacle...
September Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
It's officially fall, and along with the new season came an autumnal bounty of new health policy res...
What’s New for 2023 Marketplace Enrollment?
The annual open enrollment period for Marketplace coverage is right around the corner, running from ...
Nevada Actuarial Study Projects Significant Savings from Public Option Plans
Last week, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services released the results of an actuarial s...
The Feds Crack Down on Sham Insurance: New Court Order to Protect Consumers from Deceptive Marketing
Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took action against Benefytt Technologies, finding th...
August Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
For the August edition of our monthly research roundup, CHIR said farewell to summer by reviewing th...
CHIR Welcomes Three New Faculty Members
CHIR is delighted to welcome three new faculty members to our team: Research Professor Linda Blumber...
Third Time is the Charm? Proposed Regulations Strengthen Nondiscrimination Protections for Health Insurance Enrollees
For the third time, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights has propos...
July Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
New health policy research topped CHIR’s list of beach reads this July. For the latest monthly res...
From Cancer Screenings to Prenatal Care, the Latest Challenge to the Affordable Care Act Threatens Availability of Free Preventive Services
The ACA requires that most insurers and employers cover a set of preventive health services at no co...
In a Post-Roe World, Employers Looking to Cover Out-of-State Travel for Abortion Services Have Multiple Options and Plenty of Uncertainty
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, analyses...
June Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
It’s finally summer, and during the latest heat wave, the CHIR team cooled off with new health pol...
Improving Race and Ethnicity Data Collection: A First Step to Furthering Health Equity Through the State-Based Marketplaces
The ACA’s marketplaces are working to advance health equity. State-based marketplaces are uniquely...
Understanding the Role of Private Equity in the Health Care Sector
As private equity involvement in the health care industry increases, policymakers and other stakehol...
May Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
This month, the CHIR team celebrated the end of the school year with new health policy research. For...
New CHIR Case Study Report Examines Policies to Expand Primary Care Access in Rural New Mexico
In a new report published in collaboration with the Milbank Memorial Fund, CHIR researchers examined...
Colorado Announces Premium Rate Reduction Targets for Public Option Plans
Colorado is moving quickly to set the rules for state public option-style plans, ahead of their laun...
Broker Commissions for Mid-Year Enrollment in the Marketplaces: Options for State Marketplaces and Insurance Regulators to Prevent Discrimination
Several insurers have eliminated broker commissions for mid-year marketplace enrollment. In a new Ex...
State and Federal Policies to Increase Access to Medication Abortion
A leaked draft of an impending Supreme Court decision has previewed the potential for states to proh...
CHIR Launches New Resource Center for Policymakers on Public Option Proposals
With the generous support of Arnold Ventures, CHIR experts have launched a new resource center and n...
What Four States Are Doing to Advance Health Equity in Marketplace Insurance Plans
The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) led to historic reductions in racial and ethnic ...
Congress, Administration Work to Meet Growing Need for Behavioral Health Care
The need for mental health and substance use disorder services is substantial and growing. One in fi...
April Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
April brought us a shower of health policy research, including studies on the implications of the Am...
Response to Deceptive Marketing of Limited Plans Shows States Can Take Proactive Steps to Protect Consumers
Last month the Texas Department of Insurance issued a consent order dissolving Texas-based Triada As...
Fixing the Family Glitch: Federal Rules Aim to Improve Coverage Affordability for Working Families
Roughly 5 million people are currently unable to access marketplace subsidies due to a flawed interp...
Updated Breast Pump Coverage Guidelines Provide Important Protections for Families but More Guidance May Be Needed to Increase Access
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends feeding infants breastmilk through their first year. O...
California’s Marketplace Tries New Tactics to Reduce the Number of Uninsured and Underinsured
Despite a significant reduction in the uninsured rate over the last decade, millions of people still...
Update on State Public Option-Style Laws: Getting to More Affordable Coverage
While federal health coverage reforms remain stalled in Congress, several states are pushing forward...
Stakeholder Perspectives and Feedback on Health Equity in the 2023 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters
In the proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medica...
Happy 12th Birthday, Affordable Care Act—You’ve Grown So Much!
The Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010. On the law's 12th birthday, Karen Dav...
Massachusetts Data on Health Care Sharing Ministries Reveal Finances That Put Consumers at Risk
Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM) continue to be marketed widely, often as an alternative to th...
Stakeholder Perspectives on CMS’s 2023 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters: State Insurance Departments and Marketplaces
After the Biden administration issued the proposed 2023 “Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters,...
Stakeholder Perspectives on CMS’s 2023 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters: Consumer Advocates
In the recently released 2023 "Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters," the Biden administration is ...
New Data Show Medical Debt Disproportionately Affects the Most Vulnerable Populations
Unpaid medical bills are among the largest contributors to personal debt in the United States. Evide...
Questionable Quality Improvement Expenses Drive Proposed Changes to Medical Loss Ratio Reporting
Under the Affordable Care Act, insurers must provide rebates to enrollees when their spending on cli...
New CHIR Report Assesses the Effectiveness of Policies in Improving Access to Primary Care for Underserved Populations
It is hard to overstate the importance of primary care in ensuring robust health outcomes at the pop...
January Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
In our newest monthly roundup of health policy research, CHIR’s Emma Walsh-Alker reviews studies o...
Oregon’s Public Option Implementation Report Emphasizes Cost Containment, Health Equity
The Oregon Health Authority recently released its Public Option Implementation Report, stemming from...
Tackling “Analysis Paralysis”: New Federal Proposal Would Bring Standardized Benefit Design Back to the Federally Facilitated Marketplace
The Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces and consumer protections significantly imp...
Adoption of Value-Based, Alternative Payment Models: Where Are We Today and Where Do We Go from Here?
Employer-sponsored health insurance costs had their highest annual increase since 2010 last year, an...
CHIR Welcomes New Faculty & Staff, Jalisa Clark & Emma Walsh-Alker
We're delighted to welcome to the CHIR team our two newest colleagues, Research Fellow Jalisa Clark,...
Fixing the Family Glitch and Other Priorities: The Next Wave of Federal Administrative Action to Enhance the Affordable Care Act
The federal government has taken a series of actions to strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and...
December Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
This month, we’re ringing in the new year with new health policy research. In our final roundup of...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Answers to Post-Enrollment Questions
As of January 15th, the open enrollment period has ended in most states. A record number of consumer...
Changes to Wellness Programs Suggest Employers are Rethinking Health Promotion
January can feel like a time for new beginnings, and new year's resolutions. In recent years, many e...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Understanding Common Consumer Notices When Applying for Marketplace Coverage
Happy New Year! In most states, consumers have until January 15 to sign up for marketplace coverage ...
ACA Section 1557 as a Tool for Anti-racist Health Care
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has narrowed racial and ethnic health disparities. But significant gap...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Will My Plan Deliver the Care I Need?
Provider networks and prescription drug coverage are important consideration for consumers when choo...
November Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
For November’s monthly roundup of new health policy research, CHIR’s Emma Walsh-Alker reviewed s...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: What Does My Marketplace Plan Cover?
Enrolling in coverage on the marketplace requires comparing different health plans and decide which ...
Encouraging Signs for the Public Option in Washington State: Improved Availability and Affordability of Plans in 2022
This open enrollment, Washington State residents can once again purchase first-in-the-nation public ...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Who is Eligible for Financial Assistance on the Marketplace?
As part of CHIR’s weekly series highlighting FAQs from our updated Navigator Resource Guide, we hi...
The No Surprises Act Interim Final Rule on Dispute Resolution, Uninsured Protections, and External Review: Implications for States
Last month, the Biden administration published a third rule implementing the No Surprises Act, the c...
The Pandemic Exacerbated Gaps in Mental Health Care Access, but State and Federal Enforcement of Parity Requirements Can Help Improve Coverage
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a greater need for mental health and substance use disorder ...
Navigator Guide FAQs of the Week: Who is Eligible for Marketplace Coverage?
Open Enrollment is underway, and our newly updated Navigator Resource Guide can help Navigators and ...
Three New State-Based Marketplaces are Up and Running
We’re a week into Affordable Care Act marketplace open enrollment, and it looks like the three new...
New and Improved Navigator Resource Guide Answers Common Enrollment Questions, Spotlights Innovative Outreach for Communities of Focus
Just in time for Open Enrollment, CHIR updated and improved the Navigator Resource Guide, a practica...
October Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
In our newest monthly roundup of health policy research, CHIR intern Madison Berry reviews studies e...
Misleading Marketing of Non-ACA Health Plans Continued During COVID-19 Special Enrollment Period
Millions of Americans are eligible for health insurance plans with low or no premiums and significan...
What’s New for 2022 Marketplace Enrollment?
Open Enrollment is just around the corner. There are new policies for the marketplace in 2022, inclu...
COVID “Long Haulers” Can Carry Additional Burden of Getting Insurers to Cover Care
COVID-19 survivors may experience new symptoms well after their initial infection. Health systems of...
State-Based Marketplaces Eye Health Equity, Expanding Enrollment Under New Federal Grants
Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced $20 million in grant funding for ...
September Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
In our newest monthly roundup of health policy research, CHIR's Rachel Swindle reviews studies on co...
Limited Plans with Minimal Coverage Are Being Sold as Primary Coverage, Leaving Consumers at Risk
People shopping for health insurance online are often directed to websites using misleading or dece...
The No Surprises Act Proposed Rule on Air Ambulances and Enforcement: Implications for States
This month the Biden administration released a second rule implementing the No Surprises Act, the ne...
Building a Better Transparency Mousetrap: Recommendations to Optimize Hospital and Health Plan Price Disclosures
Amidst high and rising health care costs, recent federal regulations require hospitals and health p...
Public Input on How to Design a Federal Public Option
Congressional leaders requested input from the public on how to design a federal public health insur...
August Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
For the latest monthly roundup of health policy research, CHIR's Rachel Swindle takes a look at stud...
State “Easy Enrollment” Programs Gain Momentum, Lay Groundwork for Additional Efforts to Expand Coverage
The American Rescue Plan made health insurance more affordable, but covering the 30 million remain...
A Fixer Upper: Washington State Enacts Legislation to Boost its Public Option
Washington State enacted a first-of-its-kind public option, with the state-procured plans available ...
A Great Day for the Affordable Care Act – and the Millions of Americans who Benefit from It
It's three strikes you're out for opponents of the Affordable Care Act. For the third - and hopefull...
CHIR Welcomes Back New Faculty: Christine Monahan
CHIR is pleased to welcome Christine Monahan, J.D. back to our team as an Assistant Research Profess...
A Permanent Boost to Federal Premium Assistance Could Change State Approaches to ACA 1332 Waivers
The American Rescue Plan temporarily increases the availability and generosity of federal premium as...
Figuring out if COBRA Coverage is Right for You
By the end of May, employers must notify eligible employees and former employees about the COBRA sub...
Minority Health Month: National Latino Week of Action
April is Minority Health Month, a good time to consider ways to reduce the wide disparities in healt...
The No Surprises Act and Preemption of State Balance Billing Protections
The No Surprises Act of 2020 sets up a new national framework to protect patients from surprise out-...
Federal Policy Priorities for Preserving and Improving Access to Coverage: Perspectives from State-Based Marketplaces
The Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces provide a critical source of coverage and ...
January Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
As the snow continues to fall, the CHIR team has cozied up indoors with new health policy research. ...
Many States with COVID-19 Special Enrollment Periods See Increase in Younger Enrollees
President Joe Biden directed his administration to reopen the federal health insurance marketplace,...
Stakeholder Perspectives on CMS’s 2022 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters. Part 2: State Insurance Departments and Marketplaces
In one of the Trump administration's last acts, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services final...
2020 – It’s a Wrap. CHIR Takes Stock of a Tumultuous, but Busy Year
We at Georgetown CHIR look back at this tumultuous, tragic, and eventful year and are thankful we ha...
Navigator Guide FAQ of the Week: Coverage Requirements
Open Enrollment in most states ends next week, on December 15. As consumers continue to weigh their ...
Navigator Guide FAQ of the Week: What Does My Plan Cover?
With Open Enrollment now well underway, consumers are weighing their options for 2021 and trying to ...
The Congressional Budget Office Definition of “Health Insurance” Leaves Room for Wide Coverage Gaps, Discrimination
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) frequently estimates how policy proposals will aff...
October Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
In honor of Halloween, this October CHIR's Nia Gooding reviewed spooky studies on the projected impa...
Navigator Guide FAQ of the Week: Who Is Eligible To Purchase Coverage Through the Marketplace?
November 1 marked the first day of open enrollment on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. To help ...
What’s New for 2021 Marketplace Enrollment?
On November 1, the eighth open enrollment period begins for marketplace coverage under the Affordabl...
Trump Administration Promotes Coverage That Fails to Adequately Cover Women’s Key Health Care Needs
The ACA expanded women’s access to comprehensive coverage. The Trump administration is seeking t...
Aggressive Medical Debt Collections: COVID-related Consumer Protections Could be a Model for Long-term Relief
A new investigative report shows that even the COVID-19 crisis has not stopped many hospital systems...
August Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
The month of August went by in a flash, or painstakingly slowly, but either way it produced some gre...
Labor Day in a Pandemic: The Varnish of “Gold Standard” Employer Coverage is Wearing Thin
CHIRblog took a break for Labor Day, but in light of the holiday, we continue to think about problem...
CHIR Welcomes Two New Colleagues
We are pleased to welcome to CHIR two new team members, Megan Houston and Nia Gooding. They'll be wo...
New Report Provides State Policy Recommendations on How to Protect Consumers, Reduce Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented threats to health and safety, and exacerbates existing ...
July Research Round Up: What We’re Reading
This month, CHIR's Mari Tikoyan read studies on the role of the Affordable Care Act in addressing he...
One Victim of the COVID-19 Pandemic? State Health Policy
State legislative sessions are typically a flurry of health policy activity. In recent years, state ...
U.S. House Investigation Offers New Evidence on the Dangers of Short-Term Plans
On June 25, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce released the results of a year-long investiga...
The COVID-19 Pandemic – Insurer Insights Into Challenges, Implications, and Lessons Learned
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has placed enormous pressure on virtually all facets of U....
Instead of Encouraging Enrollment in Comprehensive Health Coverage, New Federal Guidance Requires Taxpayers to Subsidize Health Care Sharing Ministries
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS has published a proposed rule that would grant tax ad...
A Pledge to Do Better
We at CHIR are reeling and taking stock in the wake of the tragic and callous murder of George Floyd...
During the COVID-19 Crisis, State Health Insurance Marketplaces Are Working to Enroll the Uninsured
As the coronavirus pandemic and economic shutdown continue, the Affordable Care Act’s health insur...
Idaho Misses Opportunities to Help Consumers Get Affordable, Comprehensive Health Coverage During COVID-19 Pandemic
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, states have taken charge of responding to the public health emerg...
In the Age of COVID-19, Short-Term Plans Fall Short for Consumers
During February’s State of the Union address, President Trump touted his administration’s effo...
COVID-19 Response: States That Run Their Own ACA Marketplace Are Better Positioned to Help Consumers Get Covered
During the current public health and financial crises brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACA’s ...
State-Based Marketplaces Find Value, Potential Opportunity for Growth in Small-Business Offering
Small businesses have historically struggled to provide coverage to their workers. The ACA sought ...
Coronavirus Exposes Big Gaps in the U.S. System Of Coverage: What Can States Do to Help?
The cost of medical care associated with the novel coronavirus can be a barrier for many people who ...
A Placeholder Won’t Protect People with Pre-Existing Conditions
President Donald Trump has voiced an “ironclad pledge” to protect patients with pre-existing con...
Payer-Provider Contract Disputes Dominate Headlines in 2019, With No Signs of Slowing Down
For several years, we at CHIR have tracked health insurance industry trends by monitoring trade and ...
The Texas Two-Step: Implementation of State Balance Billing Law Reveals Gaps in Consumer Protections
In Congress and state legislatures across the country, policymakers are debating fixes to surprise m...
States Work to Make Individual Market Health Coverage More Affordable, But Long-Term Solutions Call for Federal Leadership
The individual health insurance markets of most states are stable but face ongoing challenges. In a ...
New Resource for Consumer Advocates on Out-of-Network Payment Disputes in Balance Billing Legislation
State lawmakers across the country are are gearing up for a new legislative session. Many will be co...
Insurers Report on Their Q3 Financial Earnings: Marketplace Profitability, Retail Partnerships, and More
Last month, health insurers reported on their third-quarter (Q3) financial earnings, offering insigh...
This Thanksgiving, We’re Thankful for the Affordable Care Act’s Protections
It’s that time of year again. Our team at CHIR is heading far and wide for Thanksgiving, and as we...
Navigator Guide FAQ of the Week: What Does My Plan Cover?
With Open Enrollment now underway, consumers are weighing their options for 2020 and trying to find ...
Navigator Guide FAQ of the Week: Can I Get Help Paying for Coverage and Care?
Open Enrollment is in full swing in all 50 states and Washington, DC. As consumers consider their co...
Will Sutter Health Settlement Dampen Provider Systems’ Anti-Competitive Tactics or Prompt More States to Take Action on Costs?
On October 16, Sutter Health announced that it had reached a tentative agreement to settle the class...
What’s New for 2020 Marketplace Enrollment?
On November 1, the seventh open enrollment period begins for marketplace coverage under the Affordab...
CHIR Launches New Resource Center for Policymakers on Surprise Medical Bills
CHIR experts have launched a new project to provide policymakers with a dedicated, independent resou...
States Leaning In: Colorado
This year several states have taken an increasingly active role in expanding health insurance covera...
Aliera Healthcare Prompts Increased State Activity on Health Care Sharing Ministries
Over the last few months, state officials have increasingly acted to warn consumers about the potent...
DOJ’s Proposed Remedy in Texas v. United States Is an Unrealistic Solution
In supplemental briefings to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Department of Justice recently ...
New Addition to Advocate Toolkit Highlights Options for Protecting Consumers Amidst Expansion of Short-Term Plans
In July, a federal district court judge upheld the Trump administration’s rule expanding availabil...
A Perfect Storm: New Federal Rules on Health Reimbursement Arrangements Exacerbate Dangers of Unregulated Products
Next year, new Trump administration rules will allow employers to offer their employees an HRA to bu...
New Resources Arm Advocates with Tools to Defend Essential Health Benefits, Pre-Existing Condition Protections
On July 9, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Texas v. United States, the co...
States Looking to Run Their Own Health Insurance Marketplace See Opportunity for Funding, Flexibility
Last week, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed legislation to establish a state-based health insur...
Is There Really A Question? Intervenor States Have Clear Interest in Defending the Affordable Care Act
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has asked the parties in Texas v. United States to file supplemen...
States Leaning In: Washington Doubles Down on Efforts to Shore up Market, Protect Consumers
In the wake of federal actions to roll back the Affordable Care Act's reforms, states have assumed a...
Coming up Short: The Problem with Counting Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance as Coverage
In April, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an analysis of federal legislat...
New Reinsurance Toolkit for State Advocates
Last month, North Dakota enacted legislation to establish a state reinsurance program, and a number ...
ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Numbers Reveal the Impact of State-Level Policy and Operational Choices on Performance
During the last open enrollment period, the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces faced a number of h...
Proposed Rule on Basic Health Program Impedes States’ Progress
Recently, CMS issued a proposed rule modifying the federal funding methodology for the Basic Health ...
Stakeholders React to HHS’s Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2020. Part 2: State Insurance Departments and Marketplaces
On April 18, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized changes to the Affordable C...
Court Strikes Down a Trump Administration Rule Designed to Circumvent the Affordable Care Act
On March 28, a federal district court struck down the core of the Trump administration’s new regul...
March Research Round Up: What We’re Reading
Spring has arrived, and the research is blooming! This March, CHIR's Olivia Hoppe was buzzing around...
Trump Administration Pushes for Sale of Insurance Across State Lines
Recently, the Trump administration issued a request for information (RFI) seeking recommendations on...
Stakeholders React to HHS’s Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2020. Part 1: Insurers
On January 18, the Department of Health and Human Services issued its Notice of Benefit and Payment ...
Shopping for a Short-Term Plan? The Information You Get about it Will Depend on Your State
Stakeholders have expressed mixed views on the value of short-term limited duration insurance. Howev...
Saying Goodbye to a Hero
Over the weekend we said goodbye to a dear friend. Rob Restuccia lost his 6-month battle against pan...
The Administration Tried to Make It Easier for States to Waive ACA Rules: Will Any Take the Plunge?
Recent federal guidance made significant changes to the ACA’s section 1332 waiver program in order...
Stakeholders Respond to the Proposed Health Reimbursement Arrangement Rule. Part 2: Insurers
In October, the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule...
House Hearings Shed Light on a Key Policy Priority: Protecting People with Pre-Existing Conditions
After becoming a rallying cry in the midterm elections, pre-existing condition protections have take...
Stakeholders Respond to the Proposed Health Reimbursement Arrangement Rule. Part I: State Insurance Departments and Marketplaces
In October 2018, the Trump administration proposed rules to expand the use of health reimbursement a...
Short-Term Health Plans Sold Through Out-of-State Associations Threaten Consumer Protections
The expansion of short-term policies has raised concerns that they may be deceptively marketed, wit...
Translating Coverage into Care: Answers to Common Post-Enrollment Questions
Open Enrollment has ended in the majority of states, and almost 8.5 million people signed up for cov...
State Insurance Department Consumer Alerts on Short-Term Plans Come Up Short
Open Enrollment for 2019 has ended in most states, but consumers are sure to be bombarded with sales...
New Georgetown Report: Assessing the Effectiveness of State-Based Reinsurance
As state legislatures across the country prepare to convene in 2019, improving access to affordable ...
Navigator Guide FAQ of the Week: Can Insurers Ask About Your Health History?
With just one month left in the open enrollment period for most of the Affordable Care Act’s marke...
States Opt to Run their Own Exchanges to Save Money, Reclaim Autonomy
Last month, the Board of New Mexico’s health insurance exchange voted to transition from HealthCar...
The Trump Administration’s Association Health Plans Emerge: What Early Announcements Tell Us About this New Market
This past summer, the Department of Labor (DOL) finalized a regulation calling for the expansion of ...
New Report Shows Role of Medicaid Expansion in Rural Area, Small Town Health Coverage
Under the Affordable Care Act, 33 states and the District of Columbia expanded Medicaid, greatly inc...
House Farm Bill Supports AHPs with Federal Grants—Following in the Footsteps of the ACA’s CO-OP Program
The Farm Bill currently being debated in a House-Senate conference committee enables the Secretary o...
Federal Flexibility Grants Highlight State Priorities for Market Stability
Last month, the Department of Health & Human Services awarded $8.6 million in grants to 30 states an...
Cities File Suit Against the Administration for Deliberately Failing to Enforce the ACA
On August 2, a coalition of cities filed a federal lawsuit against President Trump and the Departmen...
Health Care Sharing Ministries: What Are the Risks to Consumers and Insurance Markets?
Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs) are a form of health coverage in which members – who typica...
The District of Columbia’s Coverage Requirement Is Caught in Congressional Crosshairs, and Consumers Could Pay the Price
When Congress repealed the individual mandate’s financial penalty, some states acted quickly to pr...
Coverage That (Doesn’t) Count: How the Short-Term, Limited Duration Rule Could Lead to Underinsurance
Any day now, the Trump administration is expected to publish new rules that will expand access to sh...
To Understand How Consumers Are Faring in the Individual Health Insurance Markets, Watch the States
Through both inaction and design, federal policymakers have put the onus on states to ensure access ...
Stakeholder Views on the Proposed Short-Term Plan Insurance Rule: Key Takeaways from Our Review of Comment Letters
In February, the Trump administration published a proposed rule to expand the availability of short-...
Stakeholders Respond to the Proposed Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance Rule. Part II: Major Medical Insurers
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury received over 9,000 comments on th...
Stakeholders Respond to the Proposed Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance Rule. Part I: Consumer Advocates
Earlier this year, the Trump administration proposed rules to relax federal restrictions on short-te...
A Mother’s Day Gift Basket from Congress and the Trump Administration
This Mother’s Day, both Congress and the Trump administration have put together a special gift bas...
States Leaning In: Washington
Since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, states have embraced the law to varying degrees. W...
This Tax Filing Season, Many Will Spend their Refunds on Health Care
As tax filing season comes to a close, CHIR's Emily Curran discusses recent findings by the JPMorgan...
The Future of the Affordable Care Act under President Trump: Stakeholders Respond to the Proposed Association Health Plan Rule. Part V: Departments of Insurance
In this final blog in our series reviewing stakeholder comments on the Department of Labor’s propo...
The Future of the Affordable Care Act under President Trump: Stakeholders Respond to the Proposed Association Health Plan Rule. Part III: Insurers
The U.S. Department of Labor received over 900 comments on its proposed rule, which aims to promote ...
How Did State-Run Health Insurance Marketplaces Fare in 2017?
In a new Commonwealth Fund issue brief, CHIR's Justin Giovannelli and Emily Curran interviewed leade...
The Future of the Affordable Care Act under President Trump: Stakeholders Respond to the Proposed Association Health Plan Rule. Part I: State Attorneys General
The Trump administration has proposed major changes to the regulation of Association Health Plans (A...
Translating Coverage into Care: Answers to Common Post-Enrollment Questions
Open enrollment has ended, and almost 12 million individuals signed up for coverage through the stat...
Coalition Demands Crucial Information About Association Health Plan Rulemaking
On March 1st, a coalition of stakeholders, including Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insu...
Stepping in When States Don’t Step Up: First “State-Based” Plans Filed in Idaho, Violating the Affordable Care Act
Last week Blue Cross of Idaho filed the first "state-based" health plans, products that don't comply...
New Funding Opportunity Allows States to Bolster Consumer Protections
On February 5th, the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) put out a Notic...
The Future of the Affordable Care Act under President Trump: Stakeholders Respond to Proposed 2019 Marketplace Rule. Part II: Consumer Advocates
The final 2019 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters has been submitted to the White House for re...
2018 Outlook: What Health Insurance Experts at CHIR Will be Watching
Last year brought a lot of surprises in health care policy, and 2018 is shaping up to be more of the...
Enrolling in Health Insurance is Complicated. That’s Where Navigators Can Help.
With the close of Open Enrollment for federally run marketplaces last week, preliminary reports sugg...
Insurers, State Regulators Avoid Bare Counties in 2018, but Seek Long-Term Solutions
As we near the end of the second week of a so-far successful Open Enrollment, uncertainty over the f...
I’m A Certified Application Counselor. This Year’s Open Enrollment Will Be the Most Challenging Yet
Enrolling in marketplace health insurance is already a tall order for many consumers because of the ...
Policy Experts Talk Strategies, Obstacles for “Repeal and Replace”
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has increased access to health care by expanding coverage and reducing...
Soldiering On
This past week's stunning election results have put the future of the Affordable Care Act - and heal...
New and Improved Navigator Resource Guide
There's a national election approaching but it isn't for President. In just one week, consumers can ...
CHIR Expert Sabrina Corlette Talks Marketplace Problems, Possible Solutions at Alliance for Health Reform Briefing
On Monday, September 26th, CHIR’s very own Sabrina Corlette spoke at a briefing on the future of A...
State-Run SHOPs: An Update Three Years Post ACA Implementation
Small-business owners face unique challenges covering their employees; to lower barriers and increas...
New Health Affairs Policy Brief Examines the Regulation of Health Plan Provider Networks
Limited networks have become increasingly common on ACA marketplaces, comprising almost half of all ...
Factors Affecting Health Insurance Enrollment Through the State Marketplaces: Observations on the ACA’s Third Open Enrollment Period
Despite declining funding, enrollment through the state-based marketplaces increased nearly nine per...
The Sky is Not Falling: CHIR Expert Kevin Lucia Talks Trends in Coverage and Affordability on the ACA Marketplaces
On Friday, July 15, CHIR’s very own Kevin Lucia spoke at a briefing on ACA marketplaces put on by ...
Tax Filing Preparation: FAQs in the Navigator Resource Guide
It’s tax time, so consumers are figuring out how to report their health insurance coverage as they...
Depressed Doctors and What Healthcare Payers and Providers Can Do
A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found very high rates of depressio...
Paying for Miracles – The High Cost of Cures
It is every patient’s dream to hear the words, “You’re cured.” Yet the ability to cure can c...
Health Care Cost Considerations in Medical Education
Medical students are taught to care for the whole person. Shouldn't that include care for the patien...
CHIR Wishes Sally McCarty Well in Retirement
The faculty and staff of CHIR wish a fond farewell to their retiring colleague, Sally McCarty. Sally...
Telemedicine and its Effect on the Regulatory Landscape
Some states are making policies related to the emergence of telemedicine or the delivery of health c...
State-Based Marketplaces Look for Financing Stability in Shifting Landscape
State-based marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act are contemplating their financial sus...
New to the Affordable Care Act, or Need a Refresher? ACA 101 Briefing Has What You Need to Know
A recent briefing hosted by the Alliance for Health Reform and the Kaiser Family Foundation offered ...
We Say Goodbye to a Visionary, Fighter and Friend
Faculty and staff at CHIR say goodbye to Andy Hyman, a champion for a health care system in which al...
After a Slow Start, Federal Small Business Health Insurance Marketplace Offers New and Improved Functions
With intense focus on enrollment in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, enrollment through the Sma...
READ THE FINE PRINT: A New Provision in BCBS of Mississippi Plan Could Mean Huge Unexpected Costs for Plan Enrollees
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi has included a new provision in its plan description that coul...
House Ways and Means Congressional Hearing on ACA’s Website Woes Tackles Broader Policy Questions
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means held an oversight hearing during which...
Welcoming New Arrivals to CHIR
We at CHIR are excited to announce the arrival of two new colleagues who will be helping us navigate...
RIP, PCIPs
On Friday, the Obama Administration announced that they were closing the Pre-existing Condition Insu...
Evolving Dynamics of Health Insurance Exchange Implementation
Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the roles of states and the federal government in es...
As Self-Funding Remains Hot Topic in Press, States Begin to Take Action
Whether or not small employers will begin self-funding in greater numbers as the Affordable Care Act...
Checking in on the NAIC: Work in Progress to Update Model State Laws to Comply with the Affordable Care Act
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) continues its work to support states' imp...
Paying for Value, By the Numbers
Everyone likes to talk about paying for value, but how is it being implemented in the real world? Sa...
Putting the “Quality” in “Quality, Affordable Health Care”
As exchange watchers count down to the December 14th deadline for states to officially choose a stat...
Using Rate Review to Address Affordability of Coverage: Efforts in the States
A handful of states are taking innovative approaches to the regulation of health insurance premium r...
CHIR Faculty Member Mila Kofman Takes Helm of D.C. Insurance Exchange
Our friend and CHIR colleague, Mila Kofman, has been named the Executive Director of the health insu...
Welcome to CHIRblog!
Welcome to CHIR's new blog - we’re excited to introduce ourselves and launch a new forum to s...
Get Ready for the Rulemaking!
The election results mean full steam ahead with implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The ultim...
The Results are In: Now What?
With the fundamental direction of health policy in our country on the line, Americans across the cou...
CHIR Proud to Welcome New Faculty Member, Sarah Dash
CHIR - and CHIRblog - are excited to welcome a new member to our team! Allow Kevin Lucia to introduc...