Americans Demand More Time to Comment on Proposed PPACA Regulations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set forth four new Obamacare regulations that totaled more than 700 pages during the holiday season and allowed for only 30 days of public review and comment. A majority of public comments on these bills – totaling more than 80 percent on one regulation – insisted that the HHS extend the review and comment period to 90 days to allow for adequate review and public feedback.

HHS Tight Holiday Review Periods for Pending Regulations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is petitioning the American public for comment on a total of six new regulations related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as the ACA law. Two regulations have an adequate amount of time to read, understand, and comment on the proposed regulations, but four, including the 373-page the “Head Tax” rule that adds a monthly fee to all insurance premiums to cover the cost of individuals with pre-existing conditions, have only a 30-day window for public comment, and the timeframe falls over the winter holidays that include Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s. The four bills total nearly 750 pages of regulation, clearly a large amount to read, absorb, and understand in thirty days.

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. 

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

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.

Exchange Partnerships Are Deceptive; States Must Refuse Implementation

ST. PAUL, Minn. – With Friday’s deadline for states to declare their intentions with regard to implementing an Obamacare health insurance exchange past, several states agreed to allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to come into the state and “partner” with state officials in order to create a health insurance exchange. States like North Carolina, Arkansas, and Illinois will pursue such partnerships, seemingly unaware of the power they have handed to the federal government.

Three Ways States Can Refuse Health Insurance Exchanges

Impact of Obama’s Re-election on Implementation of the ACA

Just Say No to State Health Insurance Exchanges

CCHF Releases New Report: Private Health Insurance Exchanges Offer a Real Market

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Citizens' Council for Health Freedom today released a new CCHF Policy Insight paper outlining the amazing growth in private health insurance exchanges, as well as the benefits of private versus government-run ACA exchanges. Authored by industry expert and CCHF Senior Policy Fellow Greg Scandlen, the new report discusses the significant growth and benefits of private health insurance exchanges.