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Reposted by Christine H. Monahan

HealthBegins @healthbegins.bsky.social · 29d

Every step taken by this administration makes insurance access harder

Congress and the Administration Are Weaponizing Paperwork to Discourage Enrollment in Marketplace Insurance www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2025/co... by @jalisahealth.bsky.social @christinemonahan.bsky.social @commonwealthfund.org

Congress and the Administration Are Weaponizing Paperwork to Discourage Enrollment in Marketplace Insurance

Millions will lose health insurance because of new regulations, with losses driven by intentional inefficiencies, additional steps, and administrative burdens.

www.commonwealthfund.org

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · Aug 4

I recently spoke with NBC10 Philadelphia reporter Tracy Davidson, investigating why more patients are seeing unexpected increases on their medical bills, often due to outpatient #facilityfees.

🎥 Watch the full NBC10 segment here: www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/invest...

Why more patients are paying for facility fees

What’s the cost of your health? More patients say they’re being surprised by a charge they have to pay after their visits. Facility fee charges have increased 531% from 2004 to 2021, according to the ...

www.nbcphiladelphia.com

Reposted by Christine H. Monahan

Adrianna McIntyre @adrianna.bsky.social · Jul 3

One of the most urgent questions, if this bill passes, is how states can minimize the damage (coverage losses) from these policies.

The venn diagram of answers to that question and answers to "how will system vendors try to extract as much profit as possible?" is going to have a lot of overlap.

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · Jun 30

#OBBBA also undermines bipartisan state progress to increase affordability and accessibility of care thru diabetes coverage requirements, limits on cost sharing, and #priorauth reforms, as attention/funding turn to responding to the mess #OBBBA will cause the individaul market.

Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · Jun 30

Even if they avoid a gap in coverage, with every plan change, individuals w/ diabetes could face re-starting their #deductibles, going thru #priorauthorization (again!), or finding a new care provider. All of these changes could disrupt their access to care and negatively affect health/finances.

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · Jun 30

The #OneBigBeautifulBillAct is going to increase churn exponentially, kicking people off their existing coverage thanks to new paperwork burdens and eligiblity restrictions.

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · Jun 30

As Amy Killelea and I wrote in @healthaffairs.bsky.social last month, coverage transitions are really stressful if you have diabetes and need consistent access to insulin and additional health care devices and services to stay healthy.
www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...

Health Insurance Transitions For Young People With Diabetes Can Be Life Threatening | Health Affairs Forefront

For the many young adults living with diabetes, health insurance coverage transitions are not only stressful; they can also have life and death consequences.

www.healthaffairs.org

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · Jun 30

My team and I spend a lot of time thinking about how the private health insurance system works (and doesn't) for individuals with #diabetes who depend on #insulin.

To say the least, #OBBBA is scary.

This population will jump thru hoops to stay insured. That doesn't mean they won't get hurt.

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Reposted by Christine H. Monahan

Rachel Sachs @rachelsachs.bsky.social · Jun 30

Reminder that the median Medicaid eligibility level for pregnancy is over 2x the poverty level. Many of these people Mullin is referring to are pregnant or are children. www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Jun 30

Markwayne Mullin: "There are 35 million people that live below the poverty line inside the US. There are over 70 million people signed up for Medicaid. Now you're gonna tell me there's not room to make cuts?"

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Reposted by Christine H. Monahan

xpostfactoid @xpostfactoid.bsky.social · Jun 16

Republicans' monster bill is designed to make people self-deport from Medicaid and Obamacare.

That creates a talking point (also not true): No one is losing eligibility!

Why N.J.’s Republicans in Congress are OK with 16M Americans losing insurance | Opinion

N.J.'s three Republican House members, all of whom voted for the bill, dismiss these official estimates.

www.nj.com

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · Jun 10

What can we learn from states like ME, TX, and NY when it comes to outpatient hospital billing reforms?

Join @mccourtschool.bsky.social in DC on June 17 for a panel discussion exploring state-led solutions to reduce hospital outpatient charges and improve health care affordability: bit.ly/43uTEiY

Facility Fee Reforms: How States Are Tackling Excessive Charges

Learn how different states are working to reduce excessive hospital outpatient facility fees at this in-person event in Washington, DC.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Christine H. Monahan

Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 27

What can we learn from states like ME, TX, and NY when it comes to #facilityfee reform?

Join me and @GtownCHIR in DC on June 17 for a panel discussion exploring state-led solutions to reduce #hospital outpatient charges and improve #healthcare #affordability: bit.ly/43uTEiY

#healthpolicy

Facility Fee Reforms: How States Are Tackling Excessive Charges

Learn how different states are working to reduce excessive hospital outpatient facility fees at this in-person event in Washington, DC.

bit.ly

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 27

What can we learn from states like ME, TX, and NY when it comes to #facilityfee reform?

Join me and @GtownCHIR in DC on June 17 for a panel discussion exploring state-led solutions to reduce #hospital outpatient charges and improve #healthcare #affordability: bit.ly/43uTEiY

#healthpolicy

Facility Fee Reforms: How States Are Tackling Excessive Charges

Learn how different states are working to reduce excessive hospital outpatient facility fees at this in-person event in Washington, DC.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Christine H. Monahan

David Schleifer @davidschleifer.bsky.social · May 19

PBMs get a lot of attention. But most employer #healthcare dollars are spent on medical care where another type of corporate middlemen operates: third-party administrators (TPAs) owned by large insurance companies. Via @healthaffairs.bsky.social buff.ly/y6uiYa1 #healthpolicy #healthinsurance #medsky

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 15

Read our new research for more on the current barriers to coverage, affordability, and acess in private health insurance for people with insulin-requiring diabetes and state-led policy reforms chir.georgetown.edu/diabetes/sta...

Insulin-Requiring Diabetes Coverage, Affordability, and Access in State-Regulated Private Health Insurance - Center on Health Insurance Reforms

Nationwide, nearly 30 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes. Approximately 2 million individuals have Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that prevents the pancreas from making insulin a...

chir.georgetown.edu

Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 15

Yet millions of Americans, including many people with insulin-requiring diabetes, will regularly face #coverage losses and plan changes under the policies being debated in #Congress today.

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 15

Even just transitioning from one source of coverage to another — like switching from #Medicaid to #privateinsurance or between private plans — poses significant risks and burdens.

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 15

This population requires access to #insulin and other life-saving care every day. #Healthinsurance is not optional; losing coverage is life-threatening.

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 15

🚨 Today in Health Affairs, Amy Killelea and I highlight how ongoing efforts in #Congress to dismantle the #ACA imperil the well-being of young adults with insulin-requiring #diabetes. 🚨

Read it here: www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...

Health Insurance Transitions For Young People With Diabetes Can Be Life Threatening | Health Affairs Forefront

For the many young adults living with diabetes, health insurance coverage transitions are not only stressful; they can also have life and death consequences.

www.healthaffairs.org

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 14

In response to these and other concerns, states are implementing critical #policy solutions. Find out more on our website: chir.georgetown.edu/diabetes/sta...

Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 14

Our research further shows that for many people living with insulin-requiring #diabetes, #priorauthorization can be a huge barrier to staying healthy.

Christina Choate shared her experience with us:

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 14

As our research shows, every person is unique, which means their #healthcare needs are, too. That’s why for people with insulin-requiring #diabetes, it’s vital that #insurance plans cover a variety of options rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

Hear more from Hugh O'Hara:

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 14

Even with #healthinsurance, millions of people with #diabetes face high costs and barriers to care that impact their health.

Explore our NEW @helmsleytrust.bsky.social-funded research on state #policy solutions to improve #coverage, #costsharing and #priorauthorization: bit.ly/3SwBUNS

Even with private health insurance, people with IRD face: Unaffordable costs, coverage gaps, and access barriers.

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Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 2

By limiting the amount hospitals can get paid for care that that can be safely and effectively provided in an independent setting, policymakers can protect consumers and lower total spending.

Christine H. Monahan @christinemonahan.bsky.social · May 2

Notably, there was no separate facility fee in this case: just one very high hospital lab bill. This is where site-neutral legislation can come into play.

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