Access & Health Coverage

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this afternoon issued its long awaited final rule on Medicaid managed care; the first major update in more than a decade. The final rule tracks closely to the proposed rule and would provide new standards for managed care provider networks,…
Nearly 15 million people enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program between Oct. 1, 2013 and Jan. 31, 2016, increasing total enrollment in the programs by 26.5% since the start of the first open enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace, according to a report …
Almost 28% of uninsured U.S. residents under age 65 are eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, while 21% are eligible for premium tax credits through the Health Insurance Marketplaces, according to a new report by the Urban Institute and Robert Wood Johnson…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued a final rule applying certain provisions of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 to Medicaid managed care organizations, Medicaid alternative benefit plans and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The MHPAEA…
The House Energy and Commerce Committee today voted 28-19 to approve the Common Sense Savings Act (H.R. 4725), legislation that would cut $30 billion in funding over 10 years from state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs and the federal Prevention and Public Health fund. About $14…
The rapidly rising costs of prescription drugs is causing significant financial challenges for patients and their care providers. Many groups, including the AHA, are evaluating options for addressing this important issue. However, one recent proposal, which is seriously misguided, would reduce a…
Today in a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the AHA raised concerns about the proposed Anthem acquisition of Cigna focusing on the impact of Anthem’s affiliation with the Blue Cross Blue Shield System.
CMS Feb. 29 issued its final rule implementing standards that govern health insurance issuers and the Health Insurance Marketplaces for 2017.
Thanks to medical advances, patients are increasingly and safely undergoing a broad range of surgical procedures outside hospitals’ traditional four walls. In fact, two of every three surgeries performed by our member hospitals are now done on an outpatient basis. That’s why recent reports of some…