Health Care Reform - Obamacare

Intrusive HUB Explained in Medicaid FAQ

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services answered a few questions in a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about how the intrusive centeralized ACA database -- the federal data services hub (HUB) -- will work. They include a comment that all states must use, connect to and share data with the HUB for Medicaid even if the state refuses to expand Medicaid under the ACA. 

Nevada's List of Questions on ACA and the HUB

Nevada's Silver State Health insurance Exchange sent a 26 page document of questions to HHS, including on the illusive FEDERAL DATA SERVICES HUB. In their introductory statement, they note, "The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) [Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO)] has issued multiple proposed, interim final and final regulations to implement the ACA. However, complete guidance has not yet been issued....Questions, concerns and confirmation requests are provided in bold text. The number of asterisks indicates the priority of the questions. Items with five asterisks need to be answered within a month so that Nevada can maintain the implementation deadline..." (Questions about the federal data services HUB begin on page 10)

Deadline Approaches; CCHF Cites Costs as Reason to Decline

The new, extended deadline for states to declare their intentions with regard to a state health insurance exchange is December 14, by which time HHS has asked states to declare whether they intend to shoulder the responsibility of creating and operating an ACA health insurance exchange in their state. Costs are determined by a state’s population and the anticipated usage of the Exchange, with costs estimated to be between $15 million for very small states with low populations, to upwards of $300 million for heavily populated states like California. The costs are not only staggering, but could decimate the budgets and financial standing of states already struggling under a difficult economy. 

Simple Task to Slow Obamacare!

Ask for an extension of the 30-day public comment period on four proposed Obamacare regulations. Below is a comment you can use. It’s easy! Just go to each of the 4 the websites listed below, paste your comment in the “Type Comment” field, provide your country, state, zip code and category -- and CLICK “SUBMIT.”

Residents Each State Could Exempt from Individual Mandate

Fraud, Waste & Abuse in Medicare, Lack of Definitions Will Create Denials of Care

Who Defines “Fraud, Waste, and Abuse”?

This document contains a sample of the various definitions of the terms “Fraud, Waste, and Abuse” from government agencies and health plans. There are more. The lack of a concrete definition in law should give pause as cost containment initiatives increase. Here are a few questions to consider:

Exchanges to Track Patients and Doctors - CMS Request for Comments

CMS has issued a request for comments, including a list of questions, on how to redesign health care through the Exchanges. It's under the rubric of Obamacare's "National Quality Strategy" (Section 3011) and it follows the Section 1311 requirement that Exchanges pay health plans more if they improve health outcomes through government reporting, case management, care coordination, chronic disease management, medication and care compliance initiatives, health IT, wellness activities, and reduction of "health disparities." Read the questions for clarity of intrusions to come.

CCHF Applauds Gov. Walker’s Refusal to Implement a State Health Insurance Exchange

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker recently refused implementation of a Wisconsin owned and operated health insurance exchange, citing lack of design freedom and potentially undisclosed costs to taxpayers as impetus for his refusal. His decision letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius noted that Wisconsin is already able to provide healthcare to 90 percent of its citizen population without an exchange, and the new system would not improve coverage for state citizens.

Governor Scott Walker Says No to Exchange

On November 16, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker sent a letter to Secretary Sebelius saying, "...we have determined Wisconsin will not develop a partnership or state-based exchange."