The ACA: Saving Consumers’ Premium Dollars Once Again

Hot off the heels of $1.1 billion in rebates from insurance companies that failed to meet the medical loss ratio (MLR) standard, the ACA is again saving money for consumers. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) just released a new report that

MA Business Leaders: Why MA Health Reform Is Good for Business

It’s no secret that the Massachusetts health reform law is a great success for the people of Massachusetts: • 98 percent of residents have health insurance • There are virtually no uninsured children • The number of people with a usual source of care

Massachusetts First to Sign Agreement with CMS to Implement a Duals Demonstration Program

Efforts to integrate care for people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibles) took another step forward last month when Massachusetts became the first state to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Centers for Medicare and Medic

A New Opportunity for Consumers to Help Transform Care Delivery

Since its inception, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (the Innovation Center) has announced a number of funding opportunities that will transform the health care delivery system as we know it. The Innovation Center was established by the Af

NAIC August Meeting: A Few Fireworks at a Mostly Humdrum Meeting

Guest Blog The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) held its annual summer meeting in Atlanta this past weekend. The meeting was striking more for what was not accomplished than for what was. State health insurance commissioners have an

Moving Latinas Health Forward: Celebrating the Latina Week of Action

It couldn’t be a more perfect week to celebrate the third annual Latina Week of Action. Eight days ago, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) began to level the playing field when it comes to gender inequity in health care by expanding women’s access to preventiv

Something to Celebrate: Three Big Birthdays, One Short Week

Three programs vital to the health care security to millions of Americans celebrated birthdays last week. Medicaid and Medicare turned 47, and their “little sibling,” the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), also marked 15 years of ensuring low-income

This Week’s Shout Out Goes to… (Drumroll please!) #4

Women’s Health Advocates! Things you missed if you’ve been living under a rock this week: The United States Women’s gymnastics team took home the gold medal on Tuesday, and millions of other American women celebrated gaining access to new preventive benef

HHS pushing ahead on EHB

In a notably quick turnaround, Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule on what data insurers must provide regarding the essential health benefits (EHB) potential benchmark plans. As a reminder, the EHB is the standard benefit package that must