Affordability
People want to know that they can afford the care they receive and won’t have to choose between their health and potential bankruptcy.
See why we’ve made affordability a priority.
-
April 24, 2024Affordability, News & Updates, State Efforts
New York’s Section 1332 Innovation Waiver Explainer
Updated October 2, 2024 In March 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved New York’s Section 1332 Innovation Waiver request to expand the state’s existing Basic Health Plan, known as the Essential Plan, to people with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The five-year waiver…
-
March 20, 2024Affordability, News & Updates, State Efforts
New Resource: Get the Facts on Hospital Cost Shifting
As health care prices continue to climb, a larger-than-ever financial burden is placed on patients, with nearly one in four avoiding or delaying care because of costs, and about half of the country reporting difficulty affording health care. In addition, this unfair burden is also falling on employers and state…
-
March 8, 2024Affordability, Federal Efforts, News & Updates
United States of Care Submits Statement to US Senate Budget Committee on Lowering Health Care Costs & Improving Health Outcomes
On March 7, United States of Care (USofCare) submitted a statement for the record to the United States Senate Committee on the Budget. Our statement responds to the Committee’s March 6 hearing entitled “How Primary Care Improves Health Care Efficiency.” In our statement, USofCare commends the Committee’s focus on lowering…
-
February 2, 2024Affordability, Hospital Fees, News & Updates, State Efforts
United States of Care Provides Testimony in Support of New Mexico Legislation to Address Hospital Consolidation
Earlier today, United States of Care submitted testimony in support of Senate Bill 15 in the New Mexico Senate. This legislation provides important oversight of health system mergers and acquisitions to ensure New Mexicans are protected from the negative impacts of health care consolidation. Health care consolidation in New Mexico…
-
February 1, 2024Affordability, News & Updates
New Resource: Protecting People from Ground Ambulance Surprise Bills
One of the primary drivers of high out-of-pocket health care costs for people are surprise medical bills, or balance bills. These unexpected bills are charged for care received from an out-of-network provider in an in-network facility. Despite the passage of the federal No Surprises Act (NSA) and some states passing…
-
February 1, 2024Affordability, Hospital Fees, State Efforts
USofCare Provides Testimony to Washington House Health Care and Wellness Committee in Support of Legislation to Restrict Hospital Facility Fees
On Wednesday, United States of Care’s State Advocacy Manager, Kelsey Wulfkuhle delivered testimony before the Washington House Health Care and Wellness Committee in support of HB 2378, which builds upon the important work the Washington legislature has already begun to help protect patients from unexpected hospital facility fees. Facility fees,…
-
November 28, 2023Affordability, Hospital Fees, State Efforts
New Resource: State Successes Passing Laws to Promote Fair Billing
Updated: September 3, 2024 Facility fees are expenses charged by hospitals and health systems in addition to the cost of treatment and the professional fees paid to providers. These unfairly billed fees result in the same service costing a higher amount simply because it was provided in a hospital-owned outpatient…
-
June 24, 2023Affordability, Federal Efforts, News & Updates
USofCare Submits Comment Letter on New Rule that Ends an Exclusion of DACA Recipients from Eligibility for Health Coverage
United States of Care (USofCare) submitted comments on the proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to end the exclusion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from eligibility to purchase affordable health insurance plans and obtain subsidies on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. At…
-
June 23, 2023Affordability, Federal Efforts, Hospital Fees, News & Updates
USofCare Submits Statement to US Senate Finance Committee on Reigning In Hospital Prices
United States of Care has submitted a statement for the record to the United States Senate Finance Committee, commenting on the Committee Hearing on Consolidation and Corporate Ownership in Health Care: Trends and Impacts on Access, Quality, and Costs. In our statement, we urge Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking…