Showing posts with label patients. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patients. Show all posts

Monday, April 22, 2019

SENATE APPROVES SURPRISE MEDICAL BILL PROTECTIONS

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by: Texas Senate

Austin, TX - April 22, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Patients wouldn't have to worry about receiving bills for medical procedures they thought were covered by their insurance under a measure passed by the Senate on Tuesday. Surprise billing happens when a person goes to a medical facility within their insurance network, only to find out later that care was provided by contracted providers who aren't in their network. Since these contractors bill the insurance company at out-of-network rates, the patient can find themselves responsible for hundreds or thousands of dollars in medical expenses that they thought were in-network. What should happen, says North Richland Hills Senator Kelly Hancock, is that the insurer and health care providers should work this out between themselves, and leave the patient out of it. His bill, SB 1264, would protect patients from surprise billing while providing arbitration procedures to resolve billing disputes between providers. Following passage of the bill, Houston Senator Paul Bettencourt commended his colleague for his work on the bill. "People need help with this, because it's not just the money, it's the tremendous amount of time it takes to straighten these problems out," he said.

Under the bill, if a patient receives care at an in-network facility, they are only responsible for the expected co-pays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses they agreed to when they joined their insurance plan. If there is a dispute between an insurer and a healthcare provider, the bill provides an arbitration system modelled after the one used by Major League Baseball. In this system, each party presents an offer to an impartial third-party arbitrator, and he or she picks the most reasonable offer. This is intended to discourage low- or high-ball offers, and incentivizes parties to move towards the middle to avoid getting far less, or paying far more, than they would like. The bill would only apply to state-regulated insurance plans. Another bill by Hancock, SB 1530, would allow purchasers of self-funded plans regulated at the federal level under ERISA to opt-in to currently existing mediation procedures at the Texas Department of Insurance.

Also Tuesday, the Senate gave tentative approval to a bill that would prohibit cities, counties and other local governmental entities from using public funds to hire professional lobbyists. Edgewood Senator Bob Hall thinks it's wrong when local governments use taxpayer money to hire lobbyists to go to Austin and fight legislation he believes will benefit those same taxpayers. "Taxpayer-funded lobbyists overwhelm the voices of citizens and elected officials, the very people we as legislators are elected to represent," he said. His bill, SB 29, wouldn't prevent local officials like mayors or city managers from coming to the statehouse to support or oppose legislation. The bill needs a final vote, likely Wednesday, to proceed to the House.

Finally on Tuesday, the Senate approved the last two of a four bill package from Conroe Senator Brandon Creighton that would prohibit municipalities from imposing regulations relating to benefits and other employment practices on private businesses. He believes that these regulations stifle economic growth in Texas. Last week, the Senate passed two of his bills that would prevent cities from mandating sick leave and paid time-off policies to local businesses. Another bill passed Tuesday would also prohibit municipal regulations on scheduling requirements and overtime policies. "If enacted, these local policies would be catastrophic to businesses large and small," said Creighton. "Construction companies, restaurants, retail, hospitality and many other industries would be devastated." The final bill in the package would prohibit "ban the box" ordinances: rules preventing private employers from inquiring about past criminal history on employment applications. These measures will also need another, final vote Wednesday.

Friday, April 12, 2019

The State Flexibility and Patient Choice Act of 2019 Introduced

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by: Roger Marshall (R-KS, 1st)

Washington, D.C. - April 12, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- This week, Congressman Dr. Roger Marshall introduced H.R. 2183- The State Flexibility and Patient Choice Act of 2019. This legislation would drive the cost for health care down and increase patient choice by empowering states to come up with innovative solutions to stabilize their individual and small group markets.

“I have long said, in order to fix our broken health care system, we must focus on solutions that prioritize transparency, innovation, and consumerism,” Rep. Marshall said. “This bill is designed to give more power to states so that they have the freedom to develop programs and policies that will focus on cost and patient choice. I am proud of this legislation, it’s a great step in the right direction.”

The State Flexibility and Patient Choice Act would streamline Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the State Innovation Waivers application process by allowing states to waive certain requirements of the ACA to implement their own plan to provide health insurance to residents.

To obtain a waiver under the proposed guidelines of the legislation, a state must have a waiver signed into law and demonstrate that the plan will not increase the federal deficit and will provide coverage to the same number of citizens.

“My goal is to help get more people covered and drive down the cost for patients in the process.” Rep. Marshall said. “I believe that each state has unique needs and demands and shouldn’t be forced to fit a one-size-fits-all model. It’s simple; this bill could help pave the way for Kansans to make health care decisions for Kansans by eliminating arbitrary processes mandated by Obamacare.”

Currently, eight states have approved a 1332 waiver, and seven of them are reinsurance programs. Congressman Marshall’s legislation would take the hassle out of the waiver application process that has proved to be convoluted and difficult for states to navigate. The State of Maryland has an approved waiver to introduce a reinsurance program to lower premiums and stabilize their markets. Their well-run reinsurance program has shown success in decreasing people’s premiums this year and was praised as a collaborative, bipartisan success story between Maryland and the Administration.

“It’s incredible what people can accomplish when we give them freedom and choices,” Rep. Marshall said. “This legislation will help streamline the process and encourage other states to follow success like Maryland to apply for a waiver so they have the flexibility and freedom to come up with solutions that help patients get the healthcare they need at an affordable price.”

Dr. Marshall’s legislation would:

  • Continues to protect those with pre-existing conditions.
  • Creates an expedited process for identical or significantly similar applications of approved waivers.
  • Amends the contract year terms from 5 to 6 years to consider states with two-year budget cycles.
  • Helps Basic Health Programs (BHPs) to utilize all available pass-through funding.
  • Allows for consideration of other state-federally funded sources (i.e. CHIP and Medicaid).
  • Amends budget neutrality so a state’s savings are considered throughout the entire contract period, rather than annually.


  • To find more information, please click here.

    Thursday, October 25, 2018

    Mail Bombs, Opiods, Healthcare and More News...


    There are too many headlines for me to individually post, but here are the latest:

    Suspicious Explosive Devices


    Faso Statement on Discovery of Explosive Devices

    Congressman Al Green's Statement on Bomb Threats

    Griffith Statement on Political Violence

    CONGRESSWOMAN HANABUSA’S STATEMENT ON MAIL BOMBS

    Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Condemns Attempts to send Potential Explosive Devices to the Homes of Former Presidents Clinton and Obama, and to CNN

    Rep. Jeffries Statement on Acts of Domestic Terror Targeted At Perceived Adversaries of the Current Administration

    Statement from Congressman John Katko on Threats Made Today

    Congressman Krishnamoorthi On Mail Bombs To CNN And Public Figures: “Our Opposition To Political Violence Is A Fundamental Tenet Of Our Democracy”

    Isn't it funny how this happened JUST before the election?

    Opioids



    Kelly-Backed Opioid Package Signed into Law


    Fitzpatrick Opioid Legislation Signed into Law

    GUTHRIE OPIOID BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

    Hill: ‘Today Marks Successful Progress in Our Fight Against Opioid Epidemic’

    TRUMP SIGNS HUDSON'S BIPARTISAN OPIOID BILLS

    KENNEDY STATEMENT ON TRUMP’S OPIOID CRISIS CELEBRATION

    Kuster Statement on Signing of Comprehensive Opioid Legislation

    Isn't it funny how everyone wants to take credit?

    Healthcare


    Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act Signed into Law

    Harris Commends President Trump for Signing the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act Into Law

    Other News


    Congressman Frelinghuysen statement on viral outbreak in Haskell, NJ

    Congressman Matt Gaetz Issues Statement in Response to Deputy AG Rosenstein Suggesting to Secretly Record President Trump, Invoke 25th Amendment

    USACE RECEIVES SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT LASALLE PARK SHORELINE PROTECTION PROJECT

    Hollingsworth Highlights National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

    National Capital Region Democrats To Zinke: Extend Comment Period For Rule Limiting Free Speech On The National Mal

    Congresswoman Johnson Receives Top Voter Score From The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

    STATEMENT: REP. KHANNA APPLAUDS TIM COOK’S PROPOSAL FOR U.S. PRIVACY LAWS

    Rep. Ron Kind Announces Nearly $79,000 Grant to Stevens Point Fire Department