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    Clinical and Pharmaceutical Nurse Educators Collaborate to Bring Training to Nurses and Improve Patient Care
    Oncology nurse education
    Clinical and Pharmaceutical Nurse Educators Collaborate to Bring Training to Nurses and Improve Patient Care
    January 13, 2023
    Oncology Nurse Uses Retirement to Help Patients and Healthcare Professionals Understand Pancreatic Cancer Biomarker Testing Results
    Pancreatic cancer
    Oncology Nurse Uses Retirement to Help Patients and Healthcare Professionals Understand Pancreatic Cancer Biomarker Testing Results
    November 11, 2022
    The Life of Marie Curie and Her Contributions to Oncology
    Cancer treatments
    The Life of Marie Curie and Her Contributions to Oncology
    November 07, 2022
    Post-Flooding Natural Disaster Cancer Considerations and Patient Education Points
    Patient safety
    Post-Flooding Natural Disaster Cancer Considerations and Patient Education Points
    September 28, 2022
    Can Patients Use Continuous Glucose Monitors During Radiation Therapy for Cancer?
    Radiation therapy
    Can Patients Use Continuous Glucose Monitors During Radiation Therapy for Cancer?
    August 19, 2022
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    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Americans Have Stronger Access to Affordable Health Coverage Through New Biden Executive Order
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Americans Have Stronger Access to Affordable Health Coverage Through New Biden Executive Order

    An April 2022 Biden-Harris administration executive order on Continuing to Strengthen Americans’ Access to Affordable, Quality Health Coverage will protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid. The order directed federal agencies and departments to review existing language and correct regulatory wording that might be inconsistent with the goals of offering more affordable access to health care.

    May 17, 2022
    Preventive Healthcare Guidelines for Women and Children Improve Under Affordable Care Act
    Clinical practice guidelines

    Preventive Healthcare Guidelines for Women and Children Improve Under Affordable Care Act

    Comprehensive preventive care and screening guidelines for women and infants, children, and adolescents under the Affordable Care Act expanded in January 2022, requiring certain group health plans and insurance plans to provide coverage with no out-of-pocket costs for preventive health services, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

    March 11, 2022
    U.S. Supreme Court Upholds ACA Again
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    U.S. Supreme Court Upholds ACA Again

    After a decade and three legal challenges that culminated in another U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold the law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ([ACA], commonly known as Obamacare) is currently established canon. On June 17, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled in favor of the defendants in the case of California et al. v. Texas et al., maintaining ACA’s constitutionality. It was a firm 7-2 decision.

    September 23, 2021
    CMS Innovation Center Uses Past Achievements to Build Future Goals
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    CMS Innovation Center Uses Past Achievements to Build Future Goals

    Innovative, affordable, and accountable care are the key to transforming the healthcare system to achieve health equity, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center’s 10-year plan, which the center announced on August 12, 2021.

    September 17, 2021
    American Rescue Plan Lowers Costs for More Than 1.5 Million Americans During Special Enrollment Period
    Patient financial advocacy

    American Rescue Plan Lowers Costs for More Than 1.5 Million Americans During Special Enrollment Period

    When President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law in March 2021, the administration began working to make improvements in areas such as access and affordability by increasing eligibility for financial assistance. The new law lowered premiums for most people who currently had a Marketplace health plan and expanded access to financial assistance for more consumers, and data published in July 2021 showed that from February 15–June 30, 2021, more than 1.5 million Americans signed up for new health insurance coverage using the 2021 Marketplace Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

    August 31, 2021
    PCORI Adjusts National Priorities to Align With Addressing Disparities and Improving Healthcare Systems
    Cancer healthcare advocacy

    PCORI Adjusts National Priorities to Align With Addressing Disparities and Improving Healthcare Systems

    Achieving health equity tops the list of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s (PCORI’s) newly updated National Priorities for Research, which the institute released on June 24, 2021.

    August 05, 2021
    CMS Extends Enrollment Period Access for Marketplace Coverage
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    CMS Extends Enrollment Period Access for Marketplace Coverage

    Those without healthcare coverage can now purchase annual policies through state exchanges until August 15, 2021, under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) extended Special Enrollment Period (SEP), ensuring continued access to affordable coverage for Americans during a time of healthcare uncertainty.

    July 09, 2021
    ACA Provides Healthcare Coverage to 31 Million Americans
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    ACA Provides Healthcare Coverage to 31 Million Americans

    Approximately 31 million Americans now have healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a June 2021 issue brief from the office of the assistant secretary for planning and evaluation (ASPE). Of those, 11.3 million consumers were enrolled in Marketplace plans, 14.8 million people were newly enrolled in Medicaid, 1 million individuals were enrolled in ACA’s Basic Health Program option, and nearly 4 million previously eligible adults gained coverage under the Medicaid expansion due to enhanced outreach and increased federal funding. Additionally, insurance rates have fallen across the country since the law’s implementation 11 years ago.

    June 23, 2021
    ACA Medicaid Expansion Improves Health and Increases Access to Care for Young Adults
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    ACA Medicaid Expansion Improves Health and Increases Access to Care for Young Adults

    The rate of uninsured young adults (aged 19–25) fell by more than one third between 2009 and the first quarter of 2014 following the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) Medicaid expansion, according to a February 2021 report from the Urban Institute. With the expansion, young adults also reported improved overall health, increased access to care, and fewer high out-of-pocket costs. 

    May 12, 2021
    ACA Led to Higher Rates of Early Breast Cancer Diagnoses
    Research

    ACA Led to Higher Rates of Early Breast Cancer Diagnoses

    Thanks to expanded Medicaid coverage from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), women diagnosed with breast cancer—and in particular, African American women who are more likely to experience breast cancer disparities—are getting their cancers found at earlier stages, according to researchers. The study findings were reported in JAMA Surgery.

    August 19, 2020
    Supreme Court ACA Case; Cancer Moonshot; COVID-19 Outbreak
    Health Policy

    Supreme Court ACA Case; Cancer Moonshot; COVID-19 Outbreak

    As part of its focus to dismantle the 2010 healthcare law, the GOP repealed the Affordable Care Act individual mandate in 2017. Republican state attorneys general then challenged the law’s constitutionality in a series of lower court cases, and the most recent has been lingering in federal courts for more than a year. On March 2, the Supreme Court agreed to take up the issue, marking the third time the law will be heard at the highest court in the country.  

    March 09, 2020
    Trump's Pre-Existing Condition Record; Geography Affects Insurance Status; State Vaping Regulations
    Health Policy

    Trump's Pre-Existing Condition Record; Geography Affects Insurance Status; State Vaping Regulations

    The pre-existing condition coverage component of the Affordable Care Act is a bipartisan plank that connects every policy conversation about health care. Public opinion overwhelmingly supports maintaining clauses to protect coverage for those with pre-existing conditions—like cancer—through treatment and survivorship, particularly as people change jobs and insurance companies.

    January 27, 2020
    NCI Budget Boost; Ending Surprise Medical Billing; Supreme Court ACA Hearing
    Health Policy

    NCI Budget Boost; Ending Surprise Medical Billing; Supreme Court ACA Hearing

    The push and pull of budget negotiations makes for great headlines, but more important is the outcome when lawmakers finally arrive at a consensus. Earlier in December, the National Institutes of Health announced a $2.6 billion overall increase in funding, including a $297 million increase to the National Cancer Institutes (NCI), for fiscal year 2020.

    January 21, 2020
    Sharpless Returns to NCI; Vape Shop Exemption; Single-Payer State Health Care
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)

    Sharpless Returns to NCI; Vape Shop Exemption; Single-Payer State Health Care

    Ned Sharpless, MD, an oncologist by training, has had a year of transitions. He began his Washington career as the National Cancer Institute director in 2017, but after two years at the helm, he was tapped to be acting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner when Scott Gottlieb stepped down in March 2019. However, after heated discussions with the Senate over the perceived lack of action from FDA regarding restrictions to vaping and tobacco products, the Trump administration likely reconsidered his role at FDA and sought to find a more permanent appointee.

    November 11, 2019
    Medicare Cancer Screening; ACA Remains Strong; Medicare for All Cost
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Advanced Cancer Screening Coverage; ACA Remains Strong; Medicare for All Cost

    Precision medicine has a been a hot topic in health care for years now, but costs and coverage issues have created challenges to get patients the genetic testing they need at an affordable cost. In a memo from October 29, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed extending Medicare coverage to pay for genetic sequencing tests for certain hereditary types of ovarian and breast cancer.

    November 04, 2019
    Vaping Tax; Expensive Compression Garments; ACA Premiums Fall
    Cancer risk factors

    Vaping Tax; Expensive Compression Garments; ACA Premiums Fall

    The rise in youth vaping has cemented e-cigarettes as a scourge of the tobacco cessation community. The products have been marketed to minors, and Congress is currently reviewing several bills meant to tackle the issue. A House of Representatives panel agreed to levy a new vaping tax on e-cigarette pods, an effort that would raise prices for vaping products in the hopes of making them less appealing and accessible to teens. Even in today’s politicized and divisive environment, bipartisan consensus demonstrates that something must be done at the federal level to combat the increase in underage smoking, particularly with electronic devices.

    October 28, 2019
    Vincristine Shortage; Democrat Healthcare Vote; Cummings Drug Bill
    Prescription medication

    Vincristine Shortage; Democrat Healthcare Vote; Cummings Drug Bill

    After news of the vincristine shortage affecting the cancer community made headlines in several news outlets, the country’s prescription medication issues took center stage again. It’s a sign of larger problem: supply, demand, and drug pricing are all enveloped in the same issue that’s directly affecting patients and their families.

    October 21, 2019
    Shalala's Vaping Fight; Pre-Existing Conditions; Trump Nominates Hahn
    Health Policy

    Shalala's Vaping Fight; Pre-Existing Conditions; Trump Nominates Hahn

    Vaping has been associated with significant public health effects during the past several months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Congress is making e-cigarette regulation a top priority—especially in the wake of the youth smoking epidemic. Now, several members of Congress have developed their own legislative efforts to address the national issue.

    October 07, 2019
    Azar Remarks on Trump Administration’s Healthcare Vision
    Health Policy

    Azar Remarks on Trump Administration’s Healthcare Vision

    Health care is a top domestic issue for U.S. voters, and the president is speaking more and more about his administration’s plans to find accessible, affordable healthcare options for millions of Americans. Speaking this summer at the Better Medicare Alliance in Washington, DC, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar outlined three key points where the Trump administration plans to improve health care.

    September 05, 2019
    Congress Tackles Surprise Billing for Patient Access to Affordable Care
    Medical reimbursement

    Congress Tackles Surprise Billing for Patient Access to Affordable Care

    A patient is rushed to the emergency room, diagnosed, and taken to surgery immediately. The patient recovers, but weeks later a bill arrives beyond any expectation, and too often ability, to be paid. This practice has become so routine that it has its own name: balance billing or, more commonly, surprise medical billing. It strikes many Americans with the burden of their ailment once again. 

    September 02, 2019
    Surprise Billing Legislation; Drug Pricing Reform Stalls; GOP's ACA Repeal
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Surprise Billing Legislation; Drug Pricing Reform Stalls; GOP's ACA Repeal

    Surprise medical bills—a long-time problem for patients and consumers—was not on the legislative radar until recently. In short order, the issue has quickly moved through the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill, to offer some hope for consumers. Part of the committee’s mark up added an amendment allowing for arbitration to address specific medical charges if hospitals disagreed with the agreed-upon rate. Some committee members felt that without it, providers would have limited recourse in special circumstances.

    July 22, 2019
    Supreme Court to Hear Case on ACA Back Payments
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Supreme Court to Hear Case on ACA Back Payments

    When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was first implemented, the government encouraged private insurance companies to participate in the health insurance marketplace to increase competition and keep prices low for patients. According to several private insurers, the government committed to reimbursing companies if the cost of their healthcare claims exceeded premiums charged in the first three years. To date, no payments have been made between the government and private insurance companies, and a new lawsuit is making its way through the judicial system.

    July 10, 2019
    Eliminating Private Insurance; Raising the Smoking Age; HPV Vaccine Recommendation
    Health Policy

    Eliminating Private Insurance; Raising the Smoking Age; HPV Vaccine Recommendation

    Candidates in the first Democratic presidential debate spent some time addressing issues related to healthcare access. In point-blank questions, they were asked what they might do in support of Medicare for All, especially whether they’d be in favor of eliminating private insurance companies. Many were supportive of the overarching legislation, some were wary of eliminating insurance companies outright, and others flat out opposed it.

    July 08, 2019
    Healthcare Price Transparency; Cancer Survivor Caucus; Insurers Sue for ACA Backpay
    Health Policy

    Healthcare Price Transparency; Cancer Survivor Caucus; Insurers Sue for ACA Backpay

    Since 2016, then-candidate Trump promised he was going to bring healthcare costs under control. In a White House announcement on June 24, 2019, the president took steps to add transparency to the process by requiring insurance companies, hospitals, and physicians to identify fees and costs in public and simple ways for patients to see in advance and to understand.

    July 01, 2019
    Healthcare Financial Problems; ACA Reduced Disparities; FDA Project Facilitate
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Healthcare Financial Problems; ACA Reduced Disparities; FDA Project Facilitate

    Health care is driving domestic policy agenda, and voters have shown it’s a crucial component in their decision making. The money associated with healthcare costs has been a driving factor in politics year after year. Public opinion polling found that health care is the most important factor when it comes to financial burden for Americans, reports from 2018 indicated that Americans spent more than $88 billion on health care alone.

    June 10, 2019
    Washington Healthcare Option; Dems Campaign Complication; States Sue Drug Manufacturer
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Washington Healthcare Option; Dems Campaign Complication; States Sue Drug Manufacturers

    Washington is the first state in the country to offer a public insurance option to its residents after Governor Jay Inslee signed the bill into law on May 13, 2019. Is it any coincidence that Inslee is also running for president? Coming from a traditionally “blue” state with a strong progressive legislature allowed this Democratic candidate to deliver on a particularly interesting policy.

    May 20, 2019
    Patient Social Determinants; Trauma in Nursing; House Overturns Obamacare Move
    Cancer health disparities

    Patient Social Determinants; Trauma in Nursing; House Overturns Obamacare Move

    Through a combination of expert clinical knowledge, relationship-building skills, and routine selection as the most trusted profession in the United States, nurses are one of the most impactful healthcare professionals when it comes to addressing patient issues. Challenges—like financial toxicity and limited access to care—are central to nursing advocacy efforts, and oncology nurses know firsthand the negative impacts they have on patients with cancer.

    May 13, 2019
    Bipartisan Drug Legislation; Curbing Youth Smoking; Nurses Back Medicare for All
    Prescription medication

    Bipartisan Drug Legislation; Curbing Youth Smoking; Nurses Back Medicare for All

    Trying to find a path forward is a common theme among elected officials in Washington, DC, and drug pricing appears to be a bipartisan initiative. In that vein, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)— working with representatives from both sides of the aisle—announced his plan to release a drug pricing proposal by the beginning of summer 2019.

    May 06, 2019
    Youth Tobacco Bills; GOP Pre-Existing Conditions Act; Patient Protections
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Youth Tobacco Bills; GOP Pre-Existing Conditions Act; Patient Protections

    In a bold move, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced on Thursday that he would put forward a bill to raise the national age for tobacco product purchases to age 21. It’s a remarkable move on many levels, not the least of which is that McConnell is from Kentucky—a region of the country that produces tobacco products. More importantly though, McConnell made a public statement about the rise in youth consumption through vaping.

    April 22, 2019
    $88 Billion for Healthcare; Raising the Tobacco Age; 2020 Healthcare Push
    Patient financial advocacy

    $88 Billion for Health Care; Raising the Tobacco Age; 2020 Healthcare Push

    According to a Gallup Poll released on April 2, 2019, Americans borrowed approximately $88 billion to pay for health care in 2018. At a National Academies of Science healthcare conference on April 4, the main takeaway was that many Americans surveyed reported that they could not afford to have a serious illness like cancer. The cost of care, even with insurance, is more than many can financially withstand. Oncology nurses know how patients must maneuver through the system to defer costs, sometimes resulting in delayed or alternative approaches to care.

    April 08, 2019
    DOJ Says ACA Invald; Pre-Existing Condition Protections; Medicaid Work Requirements
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    DOJ Says ACA Invalid; Pre-Existing Condition Protections; Medicaid Work Requirements

    In a move that echoed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) previous stance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Trump administration’s DOJ announced it was siding with a lower court’s ruling that stated ACA was invalid and unconstitutional. Siding with conservative state attorneys general who sued and won a lower federal court judgment on the constitutionality of law, DOJ issued a terse, two-sentence letter supporting the judge’s decision to strike the law down.

    April 01, 2019
    Nurses in Congress; Defending the ACA; Biden's Moonshot Mission
    Oncology nurse influence

    Nurses in Congress; Defending the ACA; Biden's Moonshot Mission

    The new 116th Congress has settled in, and a clearer picture of the diverse freshman class has come to light. In this case, nursing is present and accounted for among incoming congressional representatives. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) is an RN who ran on her support for health care, specifically to protect those with pre-existing conditions. She’s already a co-chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus and has signed on to Title VIII nursing reauthorization legislation—something ONS has continually championed. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)—the first nurse ever elected to Congress—is entering her 13th term in the chamber and continues to offer a veteran nursing presence on the hill.

    February 11, 2019
    Government Shutdown Ends; FDA Threatens E-Cigarettes; New Medicare Part D; Uninsured Rates Rise
    Health Policy

    Government Shutdown Ends; FDA Threatens E-Cigarettes; New Medicare Part D; Uninsured Rates Rise

    After a contentious 35-day-long shutdown, President Trump announced on January 25, 2019, plans for a temporary deal to reopen the government for a three-week period while talks continue on border security and immigration. Neither party seems optimistic that compromise can happen by the February 15 deadline, and the future is still uncertain.

    January 28, 2019
    Pre-Existing Condition Resolution; Teen Vaping; Drug Pricing Talks
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Pre-Existing Condition Resolution; Teen Vaping; Drug Pricing Talks

    Debates like the one facing the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are what American democracy is built on. Checks and balances for each branch of government—often with authority undulating back to state governments—provide numerous opportunities for policy issues to change and develop through legislative, regulatory, and judicial review. Recently, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have reintroduced a resolution that authorizes Senate Legal Counsel to defend Americans with preexisting conditions against a Republican Attorneys General lawsuit facing the ACA.

    January 21, 2019
    Short-Term Insurance Plans; FDA Curbs Youth Vaping; Drug Cost Legislations
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Short-Term Insurance Plans; FDA Curbs Youth Vaping; Drug Cost Legislations

    Short-term insurance plans were developed as an attempt to circumvent the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the rising costs for its health plans after deep funding cuts to the law. But, in doing so, the Trump administration has allowed new, seemingly unregulated temporary insurance plans to emerge that appear to prey on vulnerable policyholders, offering limited coverage at high prices. On January 8, Democrats pressed the president for further answers on short-term insurance plans.

    January 14, 2019
    Government Shutdown; ACA Ruled Invalid; Medicare for All Push
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Government Shutdown; ACA Ruled Invalid; Medicare for All Push

    On January 3, 2019, the newly elected, Democrat-controlled House of Representatives introduced legislation to reopen the federal government and end the current shutdown. It’s not about the money, which is usually the case; it’s about the blame. The border wall funding—in whatever capacity—is politically driving the shutdown. But Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) doesn’t want to take up a Democrat-sponsored bill that he knows the president will veto. Democrats want that to happen to force the president to either accept the blame for the shutdown or to cave without funding for the wall and reopen the government.

    January 07, 2019
    Pre-Existing Conditions; Overcharging Prescription Drugs; Opposing Medicare for All
    Health Policy

    Pre-Existing Conditions; Overcharging Prescription Drugs; Opposing Medicare for All

    Although the Democrats have yet not formally taken control of the House of Representatives, many are primed and passionate about holding the Trump administration accountable after the November midterm elections. Through involvement in committees and as incoming chairs of powerful oversight panels, lawmakers are questioning officials about healthcare policy.

    December 17, 2018
    Medicare for All; New Congressional Priorities; Health Finance Committee
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Medicare for All; New Congressional Priorities; Health Finance Committee

    With more than 70% of Americans supporting expanded Medicare, the single-payer Medicare for All rallying cry has gained significant support among progressives and moderates alike. A recent editorial report makes the case for its adoption with strong evidence from an economic point of view. During the November 2018 midterm election campaign, many incumbent Republicans—some of whom previously voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act—now promised to uphold sections of the law, including protections for pre-existing conditions as their most important campaign commitment.

    December 03, 2018
    Dems Take House; GOP Expands Senate; Science in Midterms
    Health Policy

    Dems Take House; GOP Expands Senate; Science in Midterms

    After an arduous campaign season, the midterm election results are mostly as anticipated. The Democrats gained seats in the House of Representatives, giving the party the majority in the lower chamber starting in January 2019. The Dems say their focus for the next congressional session will focus on health policy and high drug prices. Although the jury is still out over what the midterm elections meant, most experts agree that health care was the driving political issue for voters, regardless of party.

    November 12, 2018
    Dems on Health Care; Obamacare Enrollment; Pricey Precision Medicine
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Dems on Health Care; Obamacare Enrollment; Pricey Precision Medicine

    To Rally Voters, Democrats Focus on Health Care as Their Closing Argument

    Although many states are already collecting early votes, Tuesday, November 6, 2018, will tell the full tale of the midterm elections. Many Democrats are emphasizing their focus on health care in the final days and hours before the election. By most measurable public opinion poll, health care remains the most important domestic issue for voters.

    November 05, 2018
    Drug Pricing in Ads; Cancer Fertility Preservation; American Healthcare Panic
    Prescription medication

    Drug Pricing in Ads; Cancer Fertility Preservation; American Healthcare Panic

    Addressing the high cost of prescription medications has been an ongoing focus for the Trump administration. Its latest move, requiring drug companies to list their product’s market price on consumer ads, is an added level of transparency that didn’t exist before. Whether the decree will have an impact remains to be seen, but it may add some trust to the process.

    October 22, 2018
    Obamacare Premiums Drop; Short-Term Health Plans; Drug Pricing Gag Clause
    Patient financial advocacy

    Obamacare Premiums Drop; Short-Term Health Plans; Drug Pricing Gag Clause

    October 15, 2018
    Obamacare Premiums Stabilize; Senate Opioid Package; Medicare for All Questions
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Obamacare Premiums Stabilize; Senate Opioid Package; Medicare for All Questions

    Millions of Americans depend on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace for their health insurance. In the past, costs have been unstable, seeing insurance premiums rise and competition flee. However, new reports estimate that Americans who receive health coverage from ACA will only see moderate increases to their premiums for 2019. During earlier repeal and replace efforts of Obamacare—otherwise known as ACA—the healthcare marketplace was volatile for consumers. Some insurers pulled out of the marketplace, leaving those that remained able to sharply increase premiums.

    September 17, 2018
    GOP Pre-Existing Conditions Bill; Biden in Pittsburgh; McCain’s Healthcare Legacy
    Health Policy

    GOP Pre-Existing Conditions Bill; Biden in Pittsburgh; McCain’s Healthcare Legacy

    As the Affordable Care Act is challenged in court, 12 Republican Senators signed a letter insisting that pre-existing conditions be covered in any new healthcare laws moving forward. Despite initial praise for the GOP, many patient advocacy groups, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, have voiced concerns about the efforts being far too little and far too late. On September 4, 2018, more than 25 patient advocacy groups came together and released a statement condemning a recent Republican bill stating it didn’t provide enough protections for pre-existing conditions, compared to what’s currently covered under the ACA. The advocacy groups noted the bill's outlying weaknesses and pushed for stronger reassurances.

    September 10, 2018
    Trump Administration Forced to Help to ACA
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Trump Administration Forced to Help to ACA; As Dems Campaign on Pre-Existing Conditions, Republicans Move In; Incidence of Pre-Existing Conditions Varies Across the United States

    Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), each state has the right to create its own basic healthcare system within its own jurisdictions. Currently, only New York and Minnesota have made such systems available to residents who are just over the limit to qualify for Medicaid. Those individuals receive their health care from the state—until the Trump administration eliminated certain aspects of ACA that provided federal funding for these programs. After suing to overturn the administration’s ruling, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a settlement that would pay close to half a billion dollars to New York and Minnesota to support the affected plans.

    September 03, 2018
    If You Are Young and Have Cancer, Help Can Be Hard to Find
    Access to Cancer Care

    If You Are Young and Have Cancer, Help Can Be Hard to Find; Health Secretary Says Agency Has Power to Eliminate Drug Rebates; Trump Administration Needs to Step Up on Obamacare

    A cancer diagnosis at a young age can lead to serious hardship after completing treatments and moving into survivorship. Such was the case for Matthew Zachary after his cancer diagnosis at age 21. An interesting component to Zachary’s story—and that of many others like him—is that despite the higher number of insured Americans after the Affordable Care Act, costs and complications still plague patients. Access to health care can be a double-edge sword. It means more people are seeing providers, but it doesn't mean that people can afford those treatments.

    August 27, 2018
    At Stake in the 2018 Midterms: Medicaid Expansion
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    At Stake in the 2018 Midterms: Medicaid Expansion; Health Groups Call on FDA to Speed Up Regulation of E-Cigarettes, Cigars; New Study Ignites Debate Over Cost of Medicare for All

    Healthcare reform has been a hot political topic since before the introduction of the Affordable Care Act. Potential changes in the American healthcare system will be at the hands of which party controls the House of Representatives and the Senate. The upcoming midterm elections in November 2018 could determine a shift in power and potentially add further Medicaid expansion to the list of incoming health care changes.

    August 07, 2018
    Candidates’ Position Will Matter to Voters, Especially Health Care
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Candidates’ Position Will Matter to Voters, Especially Health Care; Senate Confirms Robert Wilkie as Veterans Affairs Secretary; Trump Battle Over Drug Prices Heats Up

    The Kaiser Family Foundation released a report stating that coverage for pre-existing conditions ranks highest among healthcare campaign issues for American voters. According to the report, the issue cuts across all parties, including Democrats, Republicans, and voters living in battleground states. Since attempting to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, 58% of those polled say that President Trump’s administration and the Republicans in Congress are responsible for problems with the healthcare law moving forward.

    July 30, 2018
    GOP Chairman in Talks With Trump Officials on Restarting Key Obamacare Payments
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    GOP Chairman in Talks With Trump Officials on Restarting Key Obamacare Payments; Oklahoma Medicaid Approved for Drug Pricing Experiment; House Panel Advances Bill That Would Temporarily Halt Obamacare’s Employer Mandate

    On July 16, 2018, Kevin Brady (R-TX), House Ways and Means Committee chair, announced that he’s working with the Trump administration to restore funding to key Affordable Care Act (ACA) payments. Previously, the White House suspended more than $10.4 billion in payments to insurers, which brought criticism from Democrats and stern warnings of rising healthcare premiums.

    July 23, 2018
    capitol roundup
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Trump Officials Again Slash Funding for Obamacare Outreach Groups; Pfizer Postpones Price Hikes After Trump Criticism; Medicare for All Is New Democratic Mantra in Congressional Races

    Previously, reports had emerged that the Trump administration was considering cuts to funding for Affordable Care Act (ACA) outreach groups whose aim has been to educate and assist Americans interested in enrolling in the healthcare program. On July 10, 2018, the administration officially announced funding cuts to the outreach programs, reducing their funding from $36 million to $10 million for 2019.

    July 16, 2018
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