HAPPY BIRTHDAY ACA!!
Tomorrow marks the 9-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) becoming law. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has a new chartbook which outlines many of the accomplishments of the ACA especially in the areas of reducing uninsured rates across demographic groups. Yesterday afternoon, we participated in a Twitter chat with Raising Women’s Voices and Community Catalyst using the #WinningWithTheACA which highlighted several of the benefits of the ACA.
Previously we reported on the proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for the 2020 plan year. One of the new proposals would allow people to enroll in a health insurance plan through the website for an insurance agent and/or broker instead of directly through Healthcare.gov. CBPP has a new paper which addresses some of the concerns for this so-called “Direct Enrollment.”
Last year, we published a blog post which highlights news stories that we have published as well as several resources on Medicaid work requirements. This week, we added a new post from the CBPP which disputes the claim that the majority of people in Arkansas who lost coverage due to the work requirements did so because they found jobs.
There have also been some recent developments regarding the litigation surrounding Medicaid work requirements. The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) recently participated in oral arguments on the litigation surrounding the work requirements in Kentucky. You can read more about those oral arguments in the NHeLP press release. The judge is expected to release a ruling later this month. Additionally, NHeLP recently filed a new lawsuit on the work requirements which have been approved in New Hampshire. To learn more about that lawsuit, check out the NHeLP press release or summary.
You can also learn more about the pending litigation in a blog post this week from Health Affairs.
We are continuing to work with Community Catalyst and other partners to make sure that consumers are aware when they are entitled to a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). For more graphics like the one below which can be used to educate consumers about SEPs, check out our blog post which includes a link to an online drive of graphics. If you’re looking for information about helping people understand how to get the most out of their insurance, check out our prior blog post which includes a link to an online drive with graphics on health literacy.
The Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) has a blog post which looks at what recent court decisions on the cost-sharing reduction payments (CSRs) due to insurance companies means for premiums on the marketplace going forward. If you want to learn more about the litigation on the CSRs, check out the recent Health Affairs blog post which addresses several matters in litigation on the ACA.
The Independent Living Research Utilization program in Houston, Texas is currently seeking 1-3 undergraduate and graduate students to participate in a summer internship as part of the Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living (CHRIL). The internship is 10 to 12 weeks and includes a stipend. Applications are due March 29th. To learn more, check out the CHRIL website.
If you missed it last week, Dr. Francis Collins, the NIH Director spoke on a live stream on how the future of health begins with All of Us. This message has now been archived on YouTube. If you want to learn more about our project with the NIH’s All of Us Research Project, check out the Frequently Asked Questions document about the program.
Are you looking for local partners to help with outreach to the disability community? The NDNRC has Community Outreach Collaboratives (COCs) which work to increase collaborations in the community, dissemination and outreach efforts and enrollment of people with disabilities in the ACA marketplace. You can find a COC, on the COC page of our website.
Archives of our weekly updates are available on the NDNRC website.