The No Surprises Act (NSA) protects consumers from unexpected medical bills, with disputes between payers and providers settled through independent dispute resolution (IDR). CHIR's Jack Hoadley and Kennah Watts review the latest results from the IDR process and discuss the ongoing legal and regulatory challenges affecting the NSA ..read more

In response to widespread concerns about the impact of medical debt, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule in June 2024 aimed at limiting the influence of medical debt on credit reports and preventing certain debt collection practices. Despite recent changes by credit agencies to exclude small medical debts from reports, many Americans still face significant medical debt, particularly affecting vulnerable populations. In a recent piece for Health Affairs Forefront, Georgetown experts examine this proposed rule and the effect it could have on consumers ..read more

Last month CHIR stayed cool indoors to catch up on the latest in health policy research. In July, we read studies that assessed policies to increase insurance coverage rates and forecasted insurance coverage and health expenditures for the next decade ..read more

Health insurers use of prior authorization appears to be on the rise. A recent report by CHIR researchers examines four states' prior authorization policies for the commercial market to identify potential reform strategies to ease provider burden and improve patient access without also increasing insurers' costs ..read more

While there is some movement toward improved health care provider ownership transparency at the federal level and in some states, more attention is warranted given increasingly complex and obscured provider ownership structures and the impact they can have on health care prices, access, and quality. In a recent piece for Health Affairs Forefront, CHIR experts Stacey Pogue and Nadia Stovicek analyze efforts to improve ownership transparency at the state and federal levels ..read more

July is rate review season for state insurance departments. Proposed premiums for 2025 can help reveal how health insurers are responding to market trends, policy changes, and underlying drivers of health care cost growth. In her latest article for CHIRblog, Sabrina Corlette digs into the projected premium changes for 2025 and what's driving them ..read more

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 Justin Giovannelli and Rachel Swindle 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