In a CMS press release the Trump Administration announced yesterday, as expected, that beginning in 2019 individual states will have more control and greater flexibility in regulating the individual health insurance market and the Obamacare Marketplace (aka the Exchange). In a summary of the “final 2019 Payment Notice Rule” CMS highlighted provisions that were intended to increase flexibility, improve affordability, and decrease administrative burdens.
It’s likely that changes made at the individual state level will ultimately have some impact either directly or indirectly on employer sponsored health coverage, particularly the small group market. We will be monitoring this very closely for our clients and will report back, especially as we get closer to 2019 and more information becomes available.
In the meantime, here’s a sampling of the headlines and links to the respective articles following yesterday’s announcement by CMS:
- The Wall Street Journal: Trump Administration Allows States To Narrow ACA Coverage
- Reuters: Trump Administration Issues Rule Further Watering Down Obamacare
- Modern Healthcare: CMS Issues Final Rule Allowing States To Pick Essential Health Benefits
- The Washington Post: Trump Administration Rewrites ACA Insurance Rules To Give More Power To States
- The Hill: Trump Officials Create New Exemptions To ObamaCare Mandate
Here’s a link to the CMS press release: