Ensuring the Affordable Care Act Serves the American People

Ensuring the Affordable Care Act Serves the American People

The Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) is charged with helping implement many provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the historic health reform bill that was signed into law March 23, 2010. CCIIO oversees the implementation of the provisions related to private health insurance. Our Current Areas of Emphasis Ensuring compliance with new insurance market rules, such as the Patient’s Bill of Rights Helping states review unreasonable rate increases and overseeing new Medical Loss Ratio rules Providing oversight for the State-Based Health Insurance Exchanges and compiling data for www.HealthCare.gov Administering the Consumer Assistance Program, Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan and Early Retiree Reinsurance Program CCIIO works closely with governors and the state insurance commissioners, consumers, and stakeholders to ensure the new law best serves the American people.

 News Source : www.cciio.cms.gov

Property/casualty rates rose 5% in April: MarketScout

Property/casualty rates rose 5% in April: MarketScout

Commercial property/casualty insurance rates rose an average of 5% in April over those of the same month a year earlier, Dallas-based electronic insurance exchange MarketScout reported Monday. Commercial property and workers compensation experienced the most significant rate increases at 6%. Surety and employment liability insurance rose the least at 2% each. Among classes of business, manufacturing increased the most at 7%, while energy and public entity accounts enjoyed the smallest increases at 4% each. “The market is bumping along in a continued slow but steady path toward overall increases,” said MarketScout CEO Richard Kerr in a statement. “For the rest of 2013, we expect some months with lower composite increases than prior months, but the general direction of rates will be upward, unless new capacity enters the market. The recent movements by Berkshire Hathaway could affect the market if the plan is to enter the primary property and casualty market in a meaningful way.” Mr. Kerr referred to the recent departure of four senior American International Group Inc. executives to Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which raised speculation over Berkshire Hathaway’s strategy. “No one other than Berkshire and the crew of executives who just departed AIG know for sure what the Berkshire plan includes,” Mr. Kerr said. “If the plan is to start a large (excess and surplus) company, it could have an impact on pricing. If the plan includes an admitted primary market strategy, rates in that area could be impacted as well. Of course, all of this is speculation and the direction of rates, be it up or down, depends on what Berkshire’s pricing strategy becomes.”

News Source :  www.businessinsurance.com

New Study Reveals Patchwork Federal Safety Net Health Care Coverage For Children With Diabetes

Federal Safety Net Health Care Coverage For Children With Diabetes

Federal funding for health care coverage of children with diabetes varies significantly from state to state across the United States, according to new research from the University of Michigan. The new research, published earlier this year in the Journal of Pediatrics, examines a public program for children with chronic diseases called the Children with Special Health Care Needs program, which is funded through Title V of the Social Security Act of 1935, and provides federal support and serves as a safety net for children with chronic diseases. In the study, researchers found geographic disparities in access to coverage for medical services and medications, says lead author Joyce M. Lee, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of pediatrics at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Detailed state-by-state descriptions are available in this interactive map: http://diabetessafety.net/ "States administer Title V programs individually, defining their own medical and financial criteria for eligibility," Lee says. "This has resulted in a patchwork safety net for children with chronic disease, which could have an impact on future health outcomes. "We performed this study because we wanted to better understand the safety net that exists for kids with diabetes. This is increasingly important, because the overall burden of diabetes in children is rising in the U.S., and diabetes imposes a large financial burden on families who must manage the disease." Lee and her co-authors found that children with diabetes were eligible for Title V programs in just 32 states, which at a minimum would provide assistance with coordination of care for these children. However, only twenty-six states (51%) provided medical coverage to pay for visits with health care professionals and medications like insulin. Only 24 states also covered diabetes supplies (for example, glucometer strips, syringes). "If children do not have access to a private health plan, and they do not qualify for income-based programs like Medicaid, unfortunately children in many states will not have access to the basic elements of care, simply based on geography," Lee says. Title V programs are unique because they designate eligibility based on diagnosis of a chronic disease. Although Title V programs have financial eligibility requirements, in at least 10 states, these income limits were more generous compared with the federal limits for Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Program. Title V programs may serve as the insurer of last resort or provide secondary coverage for children with private or public insurance, particularly in children who are underinsured. "We hope this research will further highlight the need for uniformity of health benefits for children across states. Kids who live in different states should not have differential access to the care they need," Lee says. 

News Source :   www.medicalnewstoday.com