What We're Reading: Aetna Leaves ACA Markets; Home Care in Medicaid; CBO Score of AHCA Coming

Aetna Will Leave the ACA Marketplace in 2018

In 2018, Aetna was only slated to provide coverage in Delaware and Nebraska, but the company has now decided to completely exit the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges. According to FOX Business, Aetna was still projected to lose more than $200 million in 2017, despite only participating in 4 states. In 2016, the insurer had sold plans in 15 states. HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, pointed to the move as proof that the ACA markets are still unstable.

States Get Extra Time for Medicaid Home Services

CMS has granted states an additional 3 years to states to carry out plans to deliver care to Medicaid enrollees in the home and community, rather than in the nursing home. The Obama administration had set federal standards in 2014 to improve the care disabled and elderly Americans receive outside of institutions, according to Kaiser Health News. States had fought the rule, as had nursing homes and for-profit group homes. The delay received support from the National Association of Medicaid Directors.

CBO Expects an AHCA Score in 2 Weeks

The amended version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed the House without an updated score from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), but the same won’t be true in the Senate. Politico reported that since the Senate will pass the bill through the budget reconciliation process, the CBO score is required for the parliamentarian to review the legislation. The Senate version of AHCA will need to save at least as much money as the House bill. The CBO expects to release its analysis the week of May 22.