Senate Confirms HHS Leaders, Surgeon General; Special Enrollment Period Extended on ACA’s Anniversary
HHS leadership positions nearly complete as the Senate confirms Secretary Xavier Becerra. And CMS extends the Marketplace’s Special Enrollment Period on the 11th anniversary of the ACA.
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By - Rounding out HHS appointees, the Senate confirms Secretary Xavier Becerra to lead the department. And CMS marks the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act by extending the special enrollment period to August 15, expanding coverage and cost savings to thousands of Americans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
New HHS Leaders Promise to Build on ACA
On March 18, the Senate confirmed Xavier Becerra as the next Secretary of HHS in a 50-49 vote. Becerra is the first Latinx individual to lead the department. In addition to coordinating the department’s COVID-19 response, Becerra committed to expanding on the ACA to improve access to healthcare for thousands of Americans. HHS also announced the appointment of nine additional staff members including Jonathan Warsh, senior policy advisor COVID response and Stephanie Psaki, senior advisor on human rights and gender equity. READ MORE
Senate Confirms Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
Tuesday the Senate confirmed Vivek Murthy as the next surgeon general in a 57-43 vote. Murthy formerly served on the Biden transition team’s coronavirus advisory board and as surgeon general in the Obama administration. During the opening statement of his Senate hearing, Murthy promised to build partnerships between the care delivery system and community organizations through community-driven public health initiatives. READ MORE
Marketplace Special Enrollment Period Extended
CMS will extend the special enrollment period until August 15 to allow consumers additional time to enroll in Marketplace plans. Originally a 30-day extended enrollment period, the additional time will allow more consumers to take advantage of cost savings made available through the American Rescue Plan. Beginning April 1, eligible consumers can save on HealthCare.gov in the form of decreased premiums. These premiums could save consumers on average $50 per person per month. Additionally, as of July 1, anyone who received unemployment during any week of 2021 will be eligible for further savings on Marketplace plan offerings. READ MORE
ACA Celebrates Anniversary
March 23rd marked the 11th anniversary of the ACA. The Obama-era healthcare bill increased access to healthcare for millions of Americans and opened state-based marketplaces to encourage health insurance enrollment across the county. On the anniversary of the bill passage, many in the Biden administration are celebrating the Act’s accomplishments and pointing to expanding its promises. Xavier Becerra, Secretary of HHS, is one of these individuals. In a statement released by HHS, he promised a commitment to building on the ACA to ensure every family has access to healthcare coverage without a fear of debt. READ MORE
CMS Expands Primary Care First Model
The second wave of Medicare Primary Care First value-based payment models has opened for applications by CMS earlier this week. The model aims to drive down the cost of care while increasing quality and will work with organizations to transition away from fee-for-service reimbursement toward performance-based payments. READ MORE.
