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Articles by Sandy Ahn
States Take the Lead with Policies to Protect Residents with Chronic Conditions from High Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs
While there were many campaign promises to lower prescription drug costs, to date there’s been little federal action to reduce prescription drug prices or lower patients’ costs. States, however, are taking the lead with policies designed to protect consumers from the high out-of-pocket costs associated with expensive specialty drugs, many of which lack low-cost generic alternatives.
State Efforts to Lower Consumer Cost-Sharing for High-Cost Prescription Drugs
While lowering the cost of prescription drugs has broad support across the political spectrum, there has been little change in federal policy on drug pricing and costs. In the meantime, several states have taken the lead to lower out-of-pocket costs for consumers with chronic diseases needing expensive prescription drugs or specialty drugs. In this brief, the authors provide their findings from a 50-state survey of action on such policies.
State Efforts to Lower Cost-Sharing Barriers to Health Care for the Privately Insured
High deductibles have become a common health plan feature. While they can help lower premiums, they can also cause consumers to delay or forgo care. In this brief, the authors provide their findings from a 50-state survey of action to lower cost-sharing barriers to health care. Six states and DC have policies requiring insurers in the individual market to cover certain services pre-deductible, such as doctor’s visits and generic prescription drugs.
Obama's Budget and Surprise Out-of-Network Bills
by Sandy Ahn, Jack Hoadley and Sabrina Corlette of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms, originally posted on Health Affairs Blog, March 22, 2016 President Obama’s final budget proposal was met with little fanfare, but a lot of political opposition. The President, however, put forth one legislative proposal that deserves attention. It is aimed at helping consumers who get stuck with surprise bills from out-of-network health care providers.
President Obama’s Budget Takes State-Level Debates Over Surprise Out-of-Network Bills To National Policymakers
President Obama’s final budget proposal was met with little fanfare, but a lot of political opposition. The President, however, put forth one legislative proposal that deserves attention. It is aimed at helping consumers who get stuck with surprise bills from out-of-network health care providers. Specifically, the proposal would protect patients from having to pay unexpected fees to out-of-network providers for services delivered while they are in an in-network hospital.
Final Rules Make Expanded Role Official for Some Navigators in 2018
The administration officially expanded roles for Navigators beginning in 2018 when it finalized Marketplace regulations earlier this week. Much of what CHIRblog had previously described under the proposed rule published in November has been retained in the final rules. Beginning in 2018, Navigators in all Marketplaces must target assistance to underserved or vulnerable populations as well as assist other consumers in their area.
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