WASHINGTON, DC | December 18, 2018
Today 23 patient and consumer groups sent a letter to the Administration, state governors and state insurance commissioners outlining concerns the groups have around the failure of the new 1332 guidance to protect patients. In addition, the groups released the following shared statement:
"As patient and healthcare organizations, we represent and support millions of individuals facing serious, acute and chronic health conditions. Affordable and quality healthcare is essential for the health and lives of the patients we represent.
"Our organizations are disturbed by the troubling ruling in the Texas v. United States district court case last week, and we are committed to continuing to protect patients with pre-existing conditions. As such, we are deeply concerned about new guidance regarding state waivers under Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)and the related Section 1332 State Relief and Empowerment Waiver Concepts Discussion Paper. In short, the policies that states could pursue under the new guidance would significantly undermine access to quality and affordable healthcare for patients with pre-existing conditions and clearly conflict with the statutory language that both authorizes these waivers and protects patients with pre-existing conditions. We filed comments urging the Administration to rescind this guidance, and we urge state leaders to protect the health of their residents by refraining from using 1332 waivers, as envisioned by this new guidance, to undermine quality and affordable healthcare in their state.
"The new guidance removes key language from previous guidance on 1332 waivers that protects vulnerable populations and grossly misinterprets the ACA guardrails. This will have real consequences for patients, steering people into substandard coverage, such as short-term, limited-duration plans and association health plans, which often do not cover the full range of benefits and services that patients rely upon the manage their conditions.
"The Administration's waiver concepts discussion paper provides additional detail on potential proposals that, under the new guidance, could endanger patients with pre-existing conditions. Our organizations have called on the Administration to withdraw both the guidance and the concept paper to protect the health and wellbeing of the patients and families we represent."
Adult Congenital Heart Association
American Heart Association
American Liver Foundation
American Lung Association
Arthritis Foundation
Chronic Disease Coalition
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation
Global Healthy Living Foundation
Hemophilia Federation of America
Immune Deficiency Foundation
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Lutheran Services in America
March of Dimes
Mended Little Hearts
Muscular Dystrophy Association
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Hemophilia Foundation
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Organization for Rare Disorders
National Patient Advocate Foundation
Susan G. Komen
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
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The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events.
For more information, contact:
Allison MacMunn
312-801-7628
[email protected]
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