Families USA

America’s Children Are Losing Health Insurance, Putting Their Futures at Risk: How National Lawmakers Can Help

jcharles — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 16:29:47 +0000

September 27, 2019

Census numbers released yesterday tell a grim story about children’s health in America. After a generation of steady bipartisan progress, with the number of children falling by two-thirds, the last two years have seen a 180-degree change in direction. For the first time in a generation, children experienced two consecutive years of declining coverage, with the number of uninsured children shooting up by more than 10% from 2016 to 2018. America’s children desperately need help from our national leaders.

Congress Needs to Act Immediately to Stop Surprise Medical Bills, Says National Campaign

jcharles — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 20:02:32 +0000

September 26, 2019

Tennessee’s Medicaid Block Grant Proposal Will Hurt Families

jcharles — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 17:01:58 +0000

Short Analysis

September 19, 2019

This week, Tennessee released a proposal to block grant its Medicaid program based on legislation passed by state lawmakers this past spring. The proposal, entitled Amendment 42, is a radical restructuring of the state’s Medicaid program (TennCare) that will harm women, children, and elderly Tennesseans.

Statement: New Bill Forges Bold Path for Reining in Prescription Drug Prices That Are Bankrupting America's Families

jcharles — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:58:50 +0000

September 19, 2019

Comments on Pending Utah Per Capita Cap 1115 Demonstration

jcharles — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 13:17:10 +0000

Comment

September 13, 2019

Families USA submitted the attached comments on Utah's request to receive an enhanced 90-10 federal match for its partial expansion of Medicaid for adults up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and to set a "per capita cap" that limits the amount of federal funding available to the state depending on the number of enrollees in the waiver.

Medicaid Stakeholder Comments on Proposed Access Rule

amarx — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 20:59:15 +0000

Comment

September 13, 2019

On September 13, Families USA was joined by twenty other national Medicaid stakeholder organizations in a comment letter to the administration on their proposal to rescind the Obama era regulation to ensure providers are paid sufficiently under Medicaid, the “Medicaid Access Monitoring Rule.”

Utah Wastes $6.6 Million Every Month by Refusing to Fully Expand

jcharles — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 13:21:56 +0000

Short Analysis

September 10, 2019

In 2018, Utah voters passed a ballot initiative to fully expand Medicaid. However, the Utah legislature overrode the initiative in 2019. The legislation limited Medicaid expansion as envisioned by the voters, but did provide a path to full expansion if a series of state proposals fail to receive CMS approval. In April 2019, “partially expanded” Medicaid based on the state legislature’s claim that the measure would save Utah money. However, this short analysis highlights that every month that Utah does not fully expand Medicaid, it costs the state $6.6 million.

There’s no pain-free way to get beyond silver loading

jcharles — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 13:24:41 +0000

Blog Post

September 10, 2019

This blog’s readers know that President Trump’s termination of federal cost-sharing-reduction (CSR) payments in late 2017 had unexpected effects. Intended as a deadly blow to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) health insurance exchanges, the step instead provided increased financial assistance to many low- and moderate-income families. This yielded coverage gains that offset losses triggered by other administration policies.

Families USA's Comments on Pending Healthy Indiana Plan 1115 Workforce Bridge Account Amendment

jcharles — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 21:01:21 +0000

Comment

September 6, 2019

Families USA submitted this comment letter in response to CMS's request for comment on Indiana's application for a new Section 1115 Medicaid waiver amending its existing waiver, Healthy Indiana Program (HIP).

Kansas Workers and Industries Stand to Benefit from Medicaid Expansion: Top Occupations of Kansans Who Would Receive Coverage Through Medicaid Expansion

jcharles — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 16:27:02 +0000

Short Analysis

August 30, 2019

Kansas is one of 13 states that have not expanded Medicaid. Over 150,000 nonelderly, low-income Kansans could benefit if the state expanded Medicaid coverage, most of whom are working adults in industries that are the foundation of the state’s economy. Families USA has published an analysis of the most common occupations of working adults who would benefit if Kansas expanded Medicaid.

Families USA/YouGov National Poll

jcharles — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 13:26:59 +0000

Raw Data

August 26, 2019

Families USA/YouGov Iowa Poll

jcharles — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 13:34:51 +0000

Raw Data

August 26, 2019

New poll: Adding dental coverage to Medicare is so popular it could sway voters in the Democratic primary

jcharles — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 13:54:02 +0000

August 26, 2019

Health Action Webinar - Immigrant Health Under Attack: Trump’s Public Charge Rule

jcharles — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 13:20:39 +0000

Webinar

August 23, 2019

On Monday, August 12, the Trump administration finalized a cruel regulation that will force families to choose between being together or obtaining necessary services. The "Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds" rule will jeopardize the ability of immigrants to enter the U.S. or become permanent residents if they are eligible for, or could become eligible for, essential health care programs like Medicaid and Medicare subsidies, along with other programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Clinical Consensus on Medically Necessary Dental Care

jcharles — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 16:25:15 +0000

Fact Sheet

August 22, 2019

Across numerous medical fields, professionals agree that good oral health is critical to overall health, and an important component of treating or managing many diseases. The Clinical Consensus on Medically Necessary Dental Care compiles the professional, clinical perspectives of numerous medical organizations about the importance and relevance of oral and dental health to the management and treatment of diseases within their respective disciplines.

Final “Public Charge” Rule Discriminates against Lawfully Present Immigrants and Visa Applicants, Harming Health

jcharles — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 16:04:59 +0000

Short Analysis

August 21, 2019

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule, scheduled to go into effect October 15, 2019, that takes direct aim at middle- and lower-income immigrants who are lawfully residing in the United States, or who seek visas to come to the U.S. Under the new rule, DHS will determine whether, given the “totality of circumstances,” people are “more likely than not” to receive certain public benefits over the course of their lifetime; if DHS finds that they are likely to receive those benefits, they may be denied lawful permanent residency or visas.

The Results Are In: Medicaid Work Requirements Don’t Work

jcharles — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 14:53:17 +0000

Fact Sheet

August 20, 2019

For legal and political reasons, the Trump administration has characterized using Medicaid waivers to impose work reporting requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries as experimental, relying on Section 1115 of the Affordable Care Act. Similarly, states proposing Medicaid Section 1115 waivers to add work reporting requirements have hypothesized gains in self-sufficiency, increased employment, and improved health. These are dubious claims, and many observers saw these so-called experimental projects for what they were: an attempt to kick people off Medicaid.

Families USA's Letter to Capitol Hill on Support for Surprise Billing Legislation

jcharles — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 15:06:18 +0000

Comment

August 14, 2019

On August 13, Families USA sent this letter to Capitol Hill offering support for legislation to end “surprise billing,” along with specific recommendations for lawmakers as they consider legislation this fall.

Comments on Trump Administration Proposed Section 1557 Rules: Nondiscrimination in Health and Health Education Programs or Activities

jcharles — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 13:07:55 +0000

Comment

August 13, 2019

Families USA submitted comments to urge HHS to withdraw the Trump administration’s proposed rule to undermine nondiscrimination protections under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.

Trump Administration Public Charge Rule Toolkit

amarx — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 17:58:31 +0000

Tool

August 12, 2019

The Trump administration says it is working to improve health care; yet, it’s public charge rule will rip access to health care from the grasp of millions of individuals. Many more will choose not to seek care because of fear.

Trump Administration Threatens Immigrant Families Fact Sheet

jcharles — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 21:07:47 +0000

Fact Sheet

August 12, 2019

The Trump administration final rule on public charge drastically changes the requirements for certain immigrants to enter the United States and/or become permanent residents. Most immigrants who are either entering the U.S. or applying for lawful permanent residency must show that they are not likely to become a “public charge” – that is, they will not be dependent on the U.S. government for their financial support. The administration’s expansion of public charge to include Medicaid and other health care programs will force families to choice between health care and being together.

Statement: Trump Administration’s Public Charge Rule Is an Act of Moral Terrorism: Policy Will Affect Access to Health care for Millions of Documented Immigrants, Children

amarx — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 17:54:34 +0000

August 12, 2019

Statement: Congress Right to Call the Administration’s Bluff and Protect America’s Families from Junk Insurance Companies

jcharles — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 15:31:32 +0000

August 1, 2019

No Partial Expansion: What's Next for States

jcharles — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 19:50:33 +0000

Webinar

July 31, 2019

The Trump administration announced it will not provide 90/10 federal funding for partial Medicaid expansions. The decision will have an immediate impact in Utah, where state lawmakers adopted a partial expansion in the wake of the ballot initiative win for Medicaid coverage for adults.

This webinar discusses this critical decision and what's next for states.

Update: Governor Gary R. Herbert's blog - "MEDICAID EXPANSION: WHAT’S NEXT FOR UTAH?"

Consumers First Releases Policy Agenda to Address the Economic Distortions Plaguing the Health Care System

jcharles — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 15:54:27 +0000

July 31, 2019

Statement: Allowing America’s Consumers to Buy Prescription Drugs from Canada is a Good Short-Term Tactic not a Solid, Long-Term Policy Solution

jcharles — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 19:40:59 +0000

July 31, 2019

Consumers First Policy Agenda

jcharles — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 16:44:53 +0000

Fact Sheet

July 31, 2019

In May 2019, Consumers First released its Call to Action which identified six underlying distortions in the health care system that need immediate policy action. Those six focus areas are:

Putting Teeth in Medicare for All: An August Recess Toolkit for Oral Health

jcharles — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 13:59:16 +0000

Tool

July 30, 2019

Affordable oral health care is necessary for all of us to stay healthy and pain-free. This August recess, use this toolkit help your networks understand that any effort to reform the U.S. health coverage system must include comprehensive oral health coverage to fully improve American’s health and reduce health costs.

2019 Health Care Legislative Wrap-Ups

jcharles — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 17:44:09 +0000

Tool

July 30, 2019

This page serves as a hub for Families USA's 2019 Health Care Legislative Wrap-Ups: Click item to go directly to that section.

Overall Legislative Summary Wrap-Up
Oral Health Legislative Wrap-Up
Prescription Drugs
Surprise Billing

Health and Health Care in 2019 Legislative Sessions: States Step Up on Public Options, Coverage, Drug Pricing, and More

jcharles — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 15:57:25 +0000

Short Analysis

July 29, 2019

State lawmakers focused on health care coverage as well as prescription drug and other health costs in a year that also saw Medicaid programs and reproductive health threatened by state and federal policymakers. Families USA’s annual review of state legislative activity found bold new ideas on public options, coverage enrollment, and consumer issues including drug pricing and surprise billing emerging in the statehouses.