Significant delays in the distribution of emergency aid to health care providers by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the problematic formula used to allocate the aid have disadvantaged many providers. As HHS moves to release more aid, it will be important to track the criteria used in developing future allocations and ensure aid flows equitably to providers and those hardest hit by COVID-19.
As of January 2020, 35 states and the District of Columbia had expanded Medicaid, and 15 states had not. Even absent effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, if the 15 remaining states had expanded Medicaid eligibility in 2020, 3.9 million fewer people would have been uninsured.
The Berenson-Eggers Type of Service (BETOS) classification has been used for 30 years to analyze the physician fee schedule in Medicare and for a range of analytic research purposes related to physician spending patterns. This report describes the perceived problems with BETOS 1.0 that had developed over time and how BETOS 2.0 addressed them, and it illustrates the greater functionality of 2.0.
We spoke with stakeholders in six states to assess the impact of Medicaid insurers’ increasing dominance in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces. Stakeholders said there are no longer major distinctions between Medicaid and traditional commercial insurers within the Marketplaces. Stakeholders credit Medicaid insurers for increasing choice and affordability in the individual health insurance market.
Fear and confusion related to the “public charge” rule may be causing some immigrant families with children to avoid critical benefit programs. Access to nutritious food, affordable health insurance coverage, and stable housing are essential to children’s and families’ health and well-being, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Millions of fathers were uninsured in 2017–18, and many experienced unmet health needs and material hardships. Providing more and better information about available coverage options and their benefits, offering enrollment assistance to connect more uninsured dads to coverage, and, ultimately, expanding affordable coverage options could help fathers and their families.
Premiums remain a significant barrier to coverage for many Americans. Our analysis shows the changes to the Marketplace premium tax credit schedule proposed in the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act would lower premiums significantly for individuals and families of many different income levels and who are enrolled in nongroup health insurance or would choose to be in the future.
