What They’re Watching: Ryan Mooney, HMA

Ryan Mooney is a Senior Consultant at Health Management Associates. Mooney has been instrumental in consulting on a number of issues in several states. He joins us in this edition of “What They’re Watching” to discuss 1332 waivers.

I’ve been spending a lot of time looking at the rules around 1332 waivers, all the changes that are coming out of Washington allowing States more flexibility. There’s been a lot in terms of allowing States to eat an easier road to apply to the federal government to CMS for 1332s. I think that works here in Texas because Texas has a lot of different challenges that other states don’t have I mean it’s a very unique state, and that’s the kind of thing that you know Texas would probably benefit from long term– looking at ways that the different federal rules could be tailored to meet the needs of the state.

Access is one thing– I mean finding ways to get more people into coverage would be helpful in terms of using pass-through funds to get more people into coverage to bring premiums down certainly would be helpful anytime you bring premiums down that’s great for consumers. But, also just finding ways to get more people into coverage whether that’s finding the types of non qualified health plans like short-term plans, you know, that work for the state and and getting federal pass-through dollars to help that or health reimbursement arrangements that can help employers to get their employees into qualified health plans. And, additionally those funds are portable so if someone loses their job they don’t necessarily lose the money that they have to put toward healthcare. So I think there’s a lot of things that the federal government’s putting out a lot of different options for states to look at to tailor for what works best for them.