Posted on 12/18/2011 1:31:27 PM PST by freespirited
Seeking to defuse a potential showdown over a key part of the new healthcare law, the Obama administration moved Friday to let states, rather than the federal government, define which medical benefits insurance companies will have to offer consumers starting in 2014.
That allows state leaders to retain more control of health insurance even as the law extends a new federal guarantee that all Americans can get coverage, even if they are sick.
"This is significantly more state-flexible and friendly than many would have expected," said Alan Weil, head of the National Academy for State Heath Policy.
It remains unclear, however, whether the administration's efforts to shift responsibility for a critical part of the law onto states will ease its implementation or control rising costs, a major threat to the new law.
The law creates Internet-based insurance exchanges in 2014 where Americans who don't have job-based coverage will be able to buy health insurance much as they now comparison shop for airline tickets.
Insurers selling plans in these state-based exchanges must cover a basic set of benefits, including hospitalizations, emergency care, newborn and maternity care and pediatric services. The law gave the Department of Health and Human Services the authority to decide how generous those benefits should be....
Under the guidance issued Friday, state leaders can define their own set of benefits by using an existing major health plan in their state as a benchmark.
That means that some states may require insurers to cover services such as chiropractic therapy or in vitro fertilization, while others may not. The rules will not affect co-payments, cost sharing and deductibles, which play a major role in determining premiums.
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.latimes.com ...
Wait a minute—isn’t all of this garbage designated in the bill as law? What moves would the hussein administration have to now make it states decisions?
“If you like your coverage, you can keep it.”
President Obama.
So what if the state defines a coverage which doesn’t agree with your policy....SOL. The state gets the flack while DC comes out like a rose.
At any point, HHS can change the rules (quickly or subtlely) to suit their needs.
IF he's reelected and 0bamacare isn't sh!tcanned.
Then this should void the whole crap sandwich.
So, Obma decided that all on his own did he? Who say’s we don’t have a Monarchy here.
This is also unconstitutional because it violates Equal Protection Clause
of the 14th Amendment.
Maryland, Massachusetts and other liberal states will define HIGH essential
benefits compared to conservative states, thus MAKING THE TEXAS
UTAH and other conservative states’s taxpayers UNEQUAL.
Well, let’s THROW THAT INTO A LAWSUIT AND LET’S GO.
He is failing to announce what everyone forgets.hidden in his ObamaCare are a lot of nanny state things but ONE NATIONAL ID CARD per person is one of them.And why is it some of ObamaCares laws are enacted (I hear the part about all kids covered until they are 26 is?)
And... he can just change is mind.
wow.
Exactly, that and sue states for providing slightly less coverage than another.
Where does he get that authority?
Why does he think he can "let" anything happen?
This nation is a mess.
Sebelius already accepted free birth control as part of the essential benefits
package.
That means anyone making up to $80,000 and getting insurance
on the exchange gets free birth control. from me.
Well, if that happens I will not pay taxes
I will not adhere to any federal law
I will sue up to the SC
I will impeach anyone involved in Obamacare
I will vote out everyone until Obamacare is repealed
You will also be paying for trashy little ho’s to go to the drug store and buy a pill to kill her baby because she smoked a crack pipe and went to an orgy all night and only needs 8 kids for Wic.
So I guess some states won’t have to cover sex change operations?
He is in panic mode because his commie Kagan recused.
That’s mighty white of him.
It'll happen if we let it folks....
Kagan recused from obamacare decision?
whaaaa?
have i been in a cave?
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