Friday, January 3, 2014

2014 Outlook: Could Bad Enrollment Numbers Prompt ACA Changes?

By Neal Learner - December 30, 2013 Most health reform observers expect to see little legislative action on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014. But that could change quickly if the early enrollment numbers look particularly bad, says one former Capitol Hill staffer. A key development to watch in January is whether the number of uninsured in the country actually increases as a result of the ACA, says Chris Condeluci, an attorney at the law firm Venable LLP, who served as tax counsel for the Senate Finance Committee during the crafting of the reform law. “It’s a likely possibility,” Condeluci says, pointing to the millions of people who had their policies canceled in light of the new ACA minimum benefit requirements. “And that won’t play well for those Senate Democrats who are up for election in 2014,” he adds. “But the question is, how widespread is that going to be, and how big is that number going to be?” If the number is significant, then Condeluci says he could see Democrats in the Senate becoming active enough to force changes in the law, including extending the open-enrollment period and, at the most extreme, delaying the individual mandate to purchase health insurance. Still, Condeluci isn’t convinced the figure will be large enough to prompt action. In fact, he says, Senate Democrats started down that path in the early days of the website launch fiasco, but pulled back after the Obama administration was able to get HealthCare.gov operating better by Nov. 30. “That has quelled the rebellion,” he says of any legislative action. Question: How do you think the enrollment numbers will play out in early 2014? And could they be bad enough that the Democratic-controlled Senate will push for extending the open enrollment period or delaying the individual mandate? http://aishealth.com/blog/health-reform/2014-outlook-could-bad-enrollment-numbers-prompt-aca-changes?utm_source=Real%20Magnet&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=28718937

No comments:

Post a Comment