On Friday, members of the University of California Berkeley’s School of Public Health hosted a presentation about a recent research study on a proposed public option health insurance plan, called “Golden Choice.” The plan is designed to increase market competition and improve the affordability of coverage over time. The study was conducted by school faculty … Read more
It is a busy time for Washington health plans as open enrollment began on Nov. 1st. LifeWise Health Plan of Washington staff will be especially active due to a major expansion that will allow the company to offer the state’s public option to additional customers. LifeWise was one of three carriers selected by … Read more
Washington health professionals discussed rising health care costs and some initiatives that could help mitigate them during the “Updates on efforts to regulate cost growth” panel at last week’s 2022 Inland Northwest State of Reform Health Policy Conference. One of the panelists was Sharon Eloranta, MD, who is the Medical Director of Performance … Read more
Rep. Andrea Salinas is the vice-chair of the House Interim Committee on Health Care. State of Reform spoke with her to hear her health care priorities for the upcoming 2022 legislative session, which include continuing discussions on creating a public option, and addressing racism as a public health crisis. Aaron Kunkler: What are … Read more
In case you missed it, Early Bird Registration is now open for the 2022 Washington State of Reform Health Policy Conference coming up on January 6! We want to extend a huge thank you to our Convening Panel which met yesterday to talk through the issues and topics that will be teed up for discussion at the event. We are … Read more
On Monday, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) hosted a webinar to provide information on the rulemaking process for mandatory hospital participation in Cascade Care public options plans. Lawmakers originally established the state’s public option program in 2019. During the 2021 session, the legislature passed a bill deemed “Cascade Care 2.0,” which, … Read more
Fall is here. That means football, a little more rain, and elections. Polling in the governor’s race appears to show a steady lead of 3 to 4 points for McAullife. Youngkin will need to pull some more votes from the Southern Coastal region where he leads with 55%, according to a poll out last week. If … Read more
Based on some of his initial conversations with carriers, Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway believes the insurance market is “pointed in the right direction” to comply with benchmarks established by the state’s recently passed “public option” bill. He made these comments during a recent webinar hosted by Colorado Healthcare Strategy and Management (CHSM). While it … Read more
The data remains clear that getting vaccinated is the most important thing you can do to avoid COVID. It’s also clear that if you’re vaccinated, you’re extraordinarily unlikely to get a breakthrough case, and that you’re very well protected. Sure, you should still be smart about your behavior. Yes, there is some variation in vaccine … Read more
A recently introduced Medicaid public option bill could create a low-cost, public alternative to private health insurance at the state level, increasing access to health coverage for uninsured Americans. On Friday, U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D., (WA-08), U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) introduced HR.4974, or the State Public Option Act. … Read more