Last month CHIR soaked up the sun and the latest in health policy research. This month we read studies that examined hospital mergers' impact on the economy, reviewed insurance coverage rates during various policy periods, and analyzed the benefits of enhanced premium tax credits ..read more

Two national health insurers recently discussed their plans to invest in "ICHRAs," tax advantaged accounts that workers use to purchase individual market health insurance. CHIR's Hanan Rakine explores what a greater use of ICHRAs could mean for workers, and for the stability of insurance markets ..read more

Easy-enrollment programs offer states an efficient, low-cost mechanism for connecting residents with comprehensive, affordable health care coverage. In a recent post for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR experts Rachel Swindle, Rachel Schwab, and Justin Giovannelli review state efforts and effective strategies for improving easy enrollment programs and boosting healthcare enrollment.  ..read more

As hospitals and health systems expand their ownership and control of ambulatory care practices, they are frequently charging new facility fees for routine medical services delivered in outpatient settings. These bills are driving up premiums and health expenditures for consumers, employers, and, ultimately, tax payers. With support from and working in partnership with West Health, CHIR experts are studying outpatient facility fee billing reforms and share their findings in a new online repository ..read more

Over the past 30 years, hospitals and physician practices have been merging at an accelerated pace, and as a result, they have been able to command higher prices for their services. A recent report by CHIR Faculty discusses federal and state mechanisms to address provider consolidation, and what can be done to strengthen them ..read more

The U.S. significantly under-invests in primary care, even though the benefits of primary care access are well known. Several states are now using their health insurance rate review authority to push insurers to increase their investment. CHIR's Maanasa Kona and Sabrina Corlette review these states' strategies and their impact to date ..read more

The Congressional Budget Office has released its 10-year projections for the country's health insurance coverage rates. In her latest article for Health Affairs Forefront, CHIR's Sabrina Corlette reviews the agency's predictions and provides a roadmap for maintaining - and even improving - our nation's historically high coverage rates ..read more

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the all-time-high rate of insurance coverage in 2023 represents a peak, and significant numbers of people will become uninsured between 2024 and 2034. However, these projections are not our destiny. In a recent article for Health Affairs Forefront, CHIR's Sabrina Corlette reviews several policy actions and investments in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that could help sustain 2023’s low uninsurance rate, and even bring it lower ..read more

Over the last several months, CHIR hosted the webinar series "Understanding Hospital Financing." CHIR's Kennah Watts reviews this series and answers timely questions relating to hospital financial health, facility fees, and the Maryland All-Payer Model ..read more

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has released a final regulation allowing people who receive Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to access new health insurance options. CHIR's Sabrina Corlette and Julian Polaris of Manatt Health review the rule and its implications for state policy ..read more