Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Proposed ACA modification falls apart
Senate health committee chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) on Tuesday said he is giving up on attempts to reach agreement on a limited, bipartisan proposal to stabilize the individual health insurance market in 2018, “Senator Murray and I had hoped to agree on a limited, bipartisan plan to stabilize 2018 premiums in the individual health insurance market that we could take to Senate leaders by the end of the month. During the last month, we have worked hard and in good faith, but have not found the necessary consensus among Republicans and Democrats to put a bill in the Senate leaders’ hands that could be enacted,” the senator said. There is an effort to see if a different bill aimed at repealing the Affordable Care Act and known as Graham-Cassidy, can get through the Senate before a Sept. 30 deadline. It would put reshaping health insurance in the hands of the states, meaning each state would have different healthcare guidelines. States would get "block grants" and the legislation would end requirements that everyone have health insurance, and would allow insurers to deny coverage or charge more to people with pre-existing medical conditions. So the cost likely would put health care out of the reach of many who have pre-existing conditions. It also would cap spending on Medicaid, the healthcare program for the poor and disabled. Craig Becker of the Tennessee Hospital Association opposes the plan saying the bill would increase premiums for those with pre-existing medical issues. He said the plan is "unacceptable and detrimental to our state." because an estimated 1.3 to 2.8 Tennesseeans would see increased premiums under the plan.


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