Although HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell touted the success of this past open enrollment period and the affordability of quality health plans, she declined to comment on King v. Burwell during her keynote speech at America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)'s National Health Policy Conference.
Although HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell touted the success of this past open enrollment period and the affordability of quality health plans, she declined to comment on King v. Burwell during her keynote speech at America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)’s National Health Policy Conference in Washington, DC, March 11-12.
Secretary Burwell announced that during the final day of open enrollment on February 15, 2015, more Americans signed up for health insurance than any other day during this or the last enrollment period.
“With tax credits, quality plans are affordable and nearly 7.7 million, or 87% of those who selected a plan through HealthCare.gov, qualified for an average tax credit of $263 per month,” she said. “With that financial assistance, more than half, 55%, paid $100 or less per month after tax credits.”
However, Secretary Burwell did not mention the Supreme Court case that could take away tax credits for all of those individuals in the next open enrollment period should the justices vote to side with the plaintiffs and remove financial assistance in the federal marketplace.
Possibly the only reference she made to the case was when she said that the marketplace worked and with millions of Americans purchasing coverage it was clear this was a product they want and need.
“The Affordable Care Act is working and consumers don’t want these benefits taken away,” she said.
There is still work to be done, Secretary Burwell acknowledged. To ensure the healthcare system is working for everyone, they need to find better ways to empower patients, help providers work more effectively, and keep costs under control.
“At the end of the day, we all benefit from a system that delivers better care,” she said. “A system that’s smarter about how we spend our healthcare dollars. A system that keeps our population healthy.”
HHS plans to build that improved healthcare system by improving healthcare delivery, how providers are paid, and how information is distributed. The agency is looking for participation from the industry and the public to match the goals set by Medicare.
One more area that Secretary Burwell highlighted is educating patients on how to use their coverage. Patients who use the tools available to keep themselves healthy don’t just have better outcomes, but they cost less, she said.
“As we continue to get more Americans covered we have to make sure that we don’t just have insurance, but that these folks have and know how to use that insurance,” she said. “And that means connecting people to care they need, teaching them to understand their benefits and bills, and giving them the tools to make health a priority.”
Real-World Study Reveals Key Insights into DLBCL Treatment Patterns, Outcomes
April 18th 2024A recent study offers valuable insights into the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in patients across different lines of therapy, providing a look into the landscape of DLBCL management.
Read More
Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
Listen
Collecting SDOH Data Can Assess Risk of Medical Nonadherence, Improve HEI and Star Ratings
April 18th 2024At the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 2024 annual meeting, a panel of presenters explored changes coming to Medicare that incorporate social determinants of health (SDOH) data to improve patient and health system outcomes.
Read More
Drs Raymond Thertulien, Joseph Mikhael on Racial Disparities in Multiple Myeloma Care Access
December 28th 2023In the wake of the 2023 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, Raymond Thertulien, MD, PhD, of Novant Health, and Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, discussed health equity research highlights from the meeting and drivers of racial disparities in multiple myeloma outcomes.
Listen
Commonwealth Fund Report Details Pervasive Racial and Ethnic Disparities in US Health Care, Outcomes
April 18th 2024Using 25 health system performance indicators, the Commonwealth Fund 2024 State Health Disparities Report evaluated racial and ethnic disparities in health care and health outcomes both within and across US states and highlighted the urgent need for equitable health care policies and practices in the US.
Read More