AHA recommends CMS actions to stabilize marketplaces

Responding to a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services request for information on ways to reduce regulatory burdens and improve health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act, AHA today urged the agency to commit to funding cost-sharing reductions and enforce the individual mandate, among other recommendations. “Unless CMS funds the CSRs, consumers will have less choice in 2018 and face higher premiums for those plans that remain,” wrote AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels. “Uncertainty already has contributed to double-digit premium increases in some markets.” AHA also recommends CMS devote more resources to enrollment outreach and support; reinstitute a reinsurance program; evaluate the risk-adjustment program; fully phase out non-ACA compliant health plans; expedite review of state-level approaches to marketplace stabilization; and retain patient coverage protections.