WASHINGTON, DC (August 21, 2018): The Council for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC) – a coalition of employers, insurers, life science companies, PBMs, brokers, agents, patient groups, and physician organizations – responded today to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ designation of $8.6 million to support state-led efforts to stabilize health insurance markets.
The funding, awarded to 30 states and the District of Columbia, could be applied toward costs associated with completing a 1332 waiver application – such as conducting economic analyses and market scans – among other purposes.
CAHC has been a longtime advocate of greater state flexibility under the 1332 program and recently led a Congressional briefing on 1332 waiver reform. Additionally, CAHC’s parent organization, Horizon Government Affairs, consulted for the state of Wisconsin on its 1332 waiver application to create a reinsurance program, which was recently approved by the Trump administration.
CAHC released the following statement applauding CMS’ newly announced grants:
“With the disbursement of these funds, the administration is taking another important step to empower states to lead where Congress has stalled by shoring up their insurance markets through innovative solutions tailored to the unique needs of their population. We’ve seen the power of 1332 waivers at work in states like Wisconsin, where consumers saw an average 44 percent premium increase just last year. Now, thanks to the state’s recently approved reinsurance program, premiums are expected to drop by 11 percent as compared to without the waiver,” said CAHC President Joel White. “We are pleased that the grants announced this week may allow more states an opportunity to experience success in stabilizing their markets and protecting consumers, and are hopeful that this is a sign of additional measures to come on the part of the Trump administration and Congress that will make 1332 waivers more user-friendly for states.”