NHF, HFA, the Coalition for Hemophilia B, and the Hemophilia Alliance have joined together to endorse the market stabilization bill recently released by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA). The bipartisan legislation seeks to stabilize the individual health insurance market by:
- appropriating funds for the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments that President Trump has just decided to end for 2017, 2018 and 2019;
- reinstating funding for ACA marketplace outreach and enrollment activities for 2018 and 2019;
- changing some rules around the timeline and process for approving 1332 state waivers of insurance regulations, while maintaining important patient protection guardrails;
- expanding access to “copper” high-deductible health plans to people older than 30; and
- calling on HHS to release regulations to facilitate the sale of insurance across state lines.
The bleeding disorders community has endorsed this legislation, since it is an important first step towards stabilizing the health insurance market without jeopardizing patient protections. The groups have released a joint statement, available below, which has been sent to all Senate offices to ask Senators to co-sponsor the legislation.
At this point, the outlook for the legislation is unclear. While 24 bipartisan Senators have co-sponsored the legislation, suggesting that it would have enough support to pass the Senate, it is unclear if Senate leaders will schedule a vote on the bill. President Trump has released conflicting statements on the proposal, which also makes the outlook for passage unclear. The likeliest path forward is for the bill to be included in a broader legislative package at the end of the year. NHF will continue to monitor the debate and will update the community as the situation becomes more clear.
