Insurance Market Behavior

The state should ensure that a competitive insurance market exists to ensure the broadest access to comprehensive coverage, and allow hospitals and insurers to negotiate contracts without government interference. 

Advocacy

HAP supports legislation that:

  • Simplifies and streamlines the state’s physician credentialing process so new physicians and those coming from other states can more quickly begin providing health care and billing for these services
  • Improves the prior authorization process by removing administrative barriers that delay patient access to care and services, burden providers, and result in hospital underpayments
Senate Bill 225 signing
On November 16, 2022, Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 225, sponsored by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), that reforms the prior authorization process to expedite approval of patient care and reduce administrative burdens for hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers. Former HAP president and CEO Andy Carter, and Jolene Calla, Esq., HAP’s vice president, health care finance and insurance, attended the signing of this critical, HAP-supported legislation.

HAP Opposes:

Short-term Limited Duration Insurance

During 2018, the federal government expanded the availability of short-term, limited duration health plans. These plans were designed to serve as a temporary alternative for a consumer with a gap in insurance coverage. These plans do not have to meet the minimum requirements for comprehensive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. They can exclude preexisting conditions and deny coverage due to a preexisting condition. The plans do not have to cover essential health benefits, prescription drugs, preventive services or substance use disorder treatment.

Any Willing Insurer Proposals

HAP opposes Any Willing Insurer proposals, which would force hospitals to contract with any interested insurer. This approach forces a one-size-fits-all system for how hospitals must contract with insurers and how they are paid for patient care. Any Willing Insurer would hinder contracts that promote innovative care models and hospitals' ability to address specific patient and community health care needs. HAP advocates for elective network contracting, which is a fundamental to the competitive process and the concept of managed care––adopted by the state and federal governments to control costs and improve care. 
   

HAP Contacts

For more information, contact Jolene Calla, Esq., vice president, finance & legal affairs, or Kate Slatt, vice president, policy & care delivery. Media inquiries should be directed to Chris Daley, vice president, strategic communications.

 


HAP News


March 14, 2024

OCR Investigating Health Information Security Following Change Healthcare Attack

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Right (OCR) has opened an investigation into whether UnitedHealth Group and Change Healthcare are taking appropriate steps to protect patients’ health information following the February cyberattack that continues to disrupt hospital operations and finances.

March 12, 2024

Biden’s 2025 Budget Blueprint for Health

President Joe Biden has unveiled a $7.3 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2025 that includes a focus on drug pricing, cybersecurity, and Affordable Care Act subsidies, among other health priorities.

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