Alexander-Murray introduce bill to stabilize health insurance marketplaces

Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) yesterday formally introduced a bill, which has 11 Republican and 11 Democrat cosponsors, intended to stabilize the Health Insurance Marketplaces authorized by the Affordable Care Act. The bill would provide short-term funding for the cost-sharing reductions; expand access to lower-cost, catastrophic health plans; give states additional flexibility to use 1332 waivers; provide states with outreach and education funding; and direct the Department of Health and Human Services to issue regulations facilitating the sale of insurance products across state lines. The bill has not yet been scored by the Congressional Budget Office and would require 60 votes in the Senate to move forward. The AHA and seven other national organizations today thanked Alexander and Murray for their leadership and urged “Congress to take action to enact legislation that includes continued funding for CSR benefits for the rest of 2017 and for at least the next two years (2018-2019).” In addition to AHA, the statement’s signers include America’s Health Insurance Plans, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Benefits Council, American Medical Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Federation of American Hospitals, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.