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Statement of ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray on Release of Marketplace Regulations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2021
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515, jvanness@communityplans.net
STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY ON RELEASE OF MARKETPLACE REGULATIONS
WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) made the following statement on the release of finalized Marketplace regulations by the Trump Administration:
“The Marketplace regulations promulgated today by HHS are a rushed effort to implement ill-considered rules. ACAP most strongly objects to the aspect of the rule that allows states to discard the Marketplace portal – whether state-based or Federally-facilitated – and force consumers to turn to brokers or other private-sector entities. This is something like allowing states to ban Expedia and force residents to instead use travel agents.
“Consumers ought to have the choice to go to a Marketplace if they so choose. Most do, likely because it’s a neutral source of trusted information uninfluenced by things such as commission structure or private contracts. If they choose a broker – provided they know where to find one – that’s fine too. But they should have the choice. It’s unclear how this change would benefit consumers. There’s real value in a trusted one-stop shop such as healthcare.gov. Offering alternatives is one thing, but wiping it out is hard to understand.
“Accordingly, ACAP calls on the Biden Administration to freeze implementation of this regulation and for Congress to consider its recission by way of the Congressional Review Act.”
About ACAP:
ACAP represents 78 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 20 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.
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