14 December 2020
“We do have some {significant|considerable|substantial} {concerns|issues} about the {deal|offer} that was {announced|revealed},” Matt Eyles, president of America’s {Health Insurance|Medical insurance} Plans, {told|informed} The Health 202. “We {certainly|definitely} will be {advocating|promoting} for {modifications|adjustments} … it’s going to be {challenging|difficult|tough}, {but|however} that {doesn’t|does not} {mean|imply|indicate|suggest} we’re not going to {try|attempt}.”
The {deal|offer} on surprise billing, {announced|revealed} Friday, {felt like|seemed like} a surprise.
The {Democratic and Republican|Republican and democratic} leaders of {three|3} {House|Home} committees and one Senate committee {said|stated} this weekend they {agreed on|settled on} {an approach|a method|a technique} to {resolving|dealing with|fixing|solving} surprise medical {bills|expenses|costs}, {opening the door|unlocking} to include it in the {government|federal government} {funding|financing} {package|bundle|plan} Congress is {trying|attempting} to {finalize|complete|settle} {this week|today}.
“Under this {agreement|contract|arrangement}, the days of {patients|clients} {receiving|getting} {devastating|terrible|destructive|disastrous} surprise out-of-network medical {bills|expenses|costs} will be over,” {House|Home} Ways and {Means|Way|Method} Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.), {House|Home} Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and others {said|stated} in a joint {statement|declaration}.
{Ensuring|Guaranteeing|Making sure} Americans {don’t|do not} {have to|need to} {pay for|spend for} out-of-network medical {bills|expenses|costs} {incurred|sustained} through no fault of their own was {expected|anticipated} to be {a top|a leading} {priority|concern} for 2020. These {bills|expenses|costs}, which {have|have actually} {captured|caught|recorded} {public attention|spotlight} {in recent years|recently|in the last few years|over the last few years}, can come when {a patient|a client} {receives|gets} {emergency|emergency situation} care at {a hospital|a medical facility|a healthcare facility|a health center} that is outside their {insurance|insurance coverage} {plan|strategy}’s network, or when they get care from an out-of-network {provider|service provider|company|supplier} at an in-network {hospital|medical facility|healthcare facility|health center}.
{Yet the pandemic overtook most {priorities|concerns|top priorities} on Capitol Hill, {reshaping|improving} the {legislative|legal} {to-do list|order of business}.|The pandemic overtook most {priorities|concerns|top priorities} on Capitol Hill, {reshaping|improving} the {legislative|legal} to-do list.} Ending surprise billing and {lowering|reducing|decreasing} drug {prices|costs|rates} took {a back seat|a rear seats} as {lawmakers|legislators} {worked on|dealt with} relief {packages|bundles|plans} and ran for reelection {until|up until|till} this weekend.
The {agreement|contract|arrangement} bridges {a gap|a space} {between|in between} {two|2} contrasting {approaches|methods|techniques}– {but|however} leans {heavily|greatly} {toward|towards} what {doctors|physicians|medical professionals} {wanted|desired}.
“By and {large|big}, this is {vastly|greatly|significantly} {better|much better} than it was a year {ago|back|earlier},” {a consultant|a specialist|an expert} to {provider|service provider|company|supplier} groups {told|informed} me. “This {is about|has to do with} as {good|great|excellent} as we {could|might} {expect|anticipate}.”
Under the {measure|step|procedure}, an independent arbiter would settle {disagreements|disputes|differences|arguments} {between|in between} {providers|service providers|companies|suppliers} and {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies} over {how much|just how much} to {pay for|spend for} surprise medical {bills|expenses|costs}. {Insurers|Insurance providers|Insurance companies} and {patient|client} groups, who argue this would {favor|prefer} {doctors|physicians|medical professionals}, had {instead|rather} {wanted|desired} payments {tied|connected} to {median|average|mean|typical} in-network rates, in what’s {known as|referred to as|called} a “benchmarking” {approach|method|technique}.
{Yet {doctors|physicians|medical professionals}, {along with|together with|in addition to} some conservative {organizations|companies}, {know|understand} pegging payments to in-network rates (much lower than out-of-network rates) would {probably|most likely} {translate|equate} to {a major|a significant} pay cut for them.|{Doctors|Physicians|Medical professionals}, along with some conservative {organizations|companies}, {know|understand} pegging payments to in-network rates (much lower than out-of-network rates) would {probably|most likely} {translate|equate} to {a major|a significant} pay cut for them.} {So they {characterized|defined|identified}|they {characterized|defined|identified}} the benchmarking {approach|method|technique} as “{price|cost|rate} {fixing|repairing},” as dark-money groups that own {physician|doctor} staffing {companies|business} {poured|put} {millions of|countless} dollars into {ads|advertisements} to oppose the benchmarking {approach|method|technique}.
The {measure|step|procedure} does {include|consist of} some concessions to {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies}.
The bipartisan {agreement|contract|arrangement} {includes|consists of} some {checks on|look at|examine} the arbitration {process|procedure}.
After a surprise {bill|expense|costs} is {resolved|dealt with|fixed|solved} through arbitration, the {party|celebration} that brought the {dispute|conflict|disagreement} can’t do it all over {again|once again} for the {same|exact same|very same} {item|product} or service for a 90-day {period|duration}. And {during|throughout} a resolution {process|procedure}, the arbiter {must|should|needs to} take the {median|average|mean|typical} in-network rate into {consideration|factor to consider} when {choosing|selecting|picking} {between|in between} the {offers|deals} of the {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies} and the {providers|service providers|companies|suppliers}.
Loren Adler, associate director of the USC-Brookings Schaeffer {Initiative|Effort} for Health Policy:
{But|However} to {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies}, those {elements|aspects|components} are far {overshadowed|eclipsed} by the {fact|truth|reality} that the {measures|steps|procedures} {uses|utilizes} the arbitration {approach|method|technique}, which they fear will {retain|keep|maintain} the power of {{doctors|physicians|medical professionals} and {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers}|{hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers} and {doctors|physicians|medical professionals}} to charge {exorbitant|expensive|inflated|outrageous} {prices|costs|rates} for {{checkups|examinations}, {procedures|treatments} and medications|{checkups|examinations}, medications and {procedures|treatments}|{procedures|treatments}, {checkups|examinations} and medications|{procedures|treatments}, medications and {checkups|examinations}|medications, {checkups|examinations} and {procedures|treatments}|medications, {procedures|treatments} and {checkups|examinations}}.
“{Providers|Service providers|Companies|Suppliers} can go to {dispute|contest|challenge} resolution {without any|with no} sort of {threshold|limit} for the {amount|quantity},” Eyles {said|stated}. “We {think|believe} that is going to {create|produce|develop} some {incentive|reward} for {inappropriate|unsuitable|improper} practices.”
The {measure|step|procedure} {also|likewise} {leaves open|exposes} the door– albeit {just|simply} {a crack|a fracture}– for out-of-network {doctors|physicians|medical professionals} or {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers} to {bill|expense|costs} {patients|clients} for whatever {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies} {refuse|decline} to cover, a practice {known as|referred to as|called} “balance billing.” To do so, the {provider|service provider|company|supplier} would {have to|need to} {notify|inform|alert} {patients|clients} of their out-of-network status and {provide|offer|supply} them with {an estimate|a quote|a price quote} of charges 72 hours {before|prior to} {receiving|getting} out-of-network services.
{Yet {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies} are {wrapping up|concluding|finishing up} a year of {sizable|large|substantial} {profits|revenues|earnings}.
| {Insurers|Insurance providers|Insurance companies} are {wrapping|covering} up a year of {sizable|large|substantial} {profits|revenues|earnings}.
} The pandemic {meant|implied|indicated|suggested} {reduced|decreased|minimized|lowered} payments for {many|numerous|lots of} {doctors|physicians|medical professionals} and {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers}, {forced|required} to {cut down on|reduce|minimize} {elective|optional} care as more {patients|clients} {stayed home|stayed at home}. {{But|However} {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies} continued {collecting|gathering} {monthly|regular monthly|month-to-month} premiums, even as {patients|clients} {used|utilized} services less.|{Insurers|Insurance providers|Insurance companies} continued {collecting|gathering} {monthly|regular monthly|month-to-month} premiums, even as {patients|clients} {used|utilized} services less.} The {top|leading} {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies} reported {huge|big|substantial} {profits|revenues|earnings} in the {first|very first} half of 2020.
{Insurers|Insurance providers|Insurance companies} are {required|needed} under the Affordable Care Act to return {some of|a few of} those dollars to {consumers|customers}. {{But|However} the background environment {may|might} have made it {easier|simpler|much easier} for {doctors|physicians|medical professionals} to argue this year is {no time|no time at all} to be cutting into their {revenue|income|profits|earnings}.
| The background environment {may|might} have made it {easier|simpler|much easier} for {doctors|physicians|medical professionals} to argue this year is no time to be cutting into their {revenue|income|profits|earnings}.
}”There’s no {worse|even worse} time to be cutting {doctors|physicians|medical professionals}’ payments,” the {consultant|specialist|expert} {told|informed} me. “This didn’t square with the {current|present|existing} politics and the state of the pandemic.”
The {agreement|contract|arrangement} isn’t a done {deal|offer}– {but|however} there’s {not much|very little} wiggle {room|space}.
Congress has a Dec. 18 {deadline|due date} to {agree on|settle on} {a plan|a strategy} to {fund|money} federal {agencies|companies|firms}. {{But|However} {severe|serious|extreme} gridlock over both the {spending|costs} {bill|expense|costs} and another coronavirus relief {package|bundle|plan} is threatening to keep {lawmakers|legislators} in Washington for {much longer|a lot longer}.
| {Severe|Serious|Extreme} gridlock over both the {spending|costs} {bill|expense|costs} and another coronavirus relief {package|bundle|plan} is threatening to keep {lawmakers|legislators} in Washington for much longer.
}”{Many|Numerous|Lots of} {lawmakers|legislators} now {expect|anticipate} Congress to not {just|simply} blow past their {new|brand-new} {deadline|due date} of Dec. 18 {but|however} {also|likewise} past the {once|when|as soon as} sacrosanct Christmas {holiday|vacation}, which would {set up|establish} the {first|very first} substantive {legislative|legal} sessions in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve {since|because|considering that|given that} 2012,” Paul Kane and Mike DeBonis report.
{If the surprise billing {agreement|contract|arrangement} threatened {a potential|a prospective|a possible} {deal|offer}, it {could|might} {easily|quickly} be tossed by the wayside.|It {could|might} {easily|quickly} be tossed by the wayside if the surprise billing {agreement|contract|arrangement} threatened {a potential|a prospective|a possible} {deal|offer}.} {House|Home} Speaker Nancy Pelosi {has|has actually} {said|stated} she {wants|desires} the {agreement|contract|arrangement} in {a spending|a costs} {bill|expense|costs}, {but|however} Senate {Majority|Bulk} Leader Mitch McConnell hasn’t {said|stated} anything about it– and his {office|workplace} didn’t {respond to|react to} {a query|an inquiry|a question} {yesterday|the other day}.
Vaccine {latest|newest|most current}
The {Food and Drug Administration|Fda} on Friday {approved|authorized} Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine for {emergency|emergency situation} {use|usage} in {people|individuals} 16 and older. Health-care {workers|employees} and {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} of {long-term|long-lasting} care {facilities|centers} will be {first|initially} in line to get the vaccine.
{A small|A little} crowd of {people|individuals} on Sunday cheered as trucks {carrying|bring} the {first|very first} {shipments|deliveries} of the vaccine {rolled out|presented} of {a manufacturing plant|a factory} in Michigan on Sunday. The {shipments|deliveries}, {carrying|bring} {nearly|almost} 3 million vaccine {doses|dosages}, are {expected|anticipated} to {arrive|show up|get here} today at 145 {sites|websites}, {mostly|mainly|primarily} {large|big} {hospital|medical facility|healthcare facility|health center} systems, with another 491 {sites|websites} {receiving|getting} {doses|dosages} tomorrow and Wednesday.
Howard Mortman, {communications|interactions} director for C-SPAN:
{Meanwhile|On The Other Hand}, Operation {Warp Speed|Lightning speed|Terminal velocity} {announced|revealed} that it {planned|prepared} to {purchase|buy|acquire} {an additional|an extra} 100 million {doses|dosages} of Moderna’s vaccine {candidate|prospect}, which, like Pfizer’s vaccine, {requires|needs} {two|2} {doses|dosages} per {person|individual}. The purchase {comes on|begins} in addition to 800 million {doses|dosages} the {government|federal government} {has|has actually} {purchased from|bought from} {six|6} vaccine makers, {including|consisting of} Pfizer and Moderna. {{So far|Up until now}, Pfizer’s vaccine is the {only|just} one that {has|has actually} {received|gotten} {authorization|permission}, although the Moderna vaccine is {expected|anticipated} to {receive|get} the {go ahead|go on|proceed} from the FDA {shortly|soon|quickly} after an advisory panel {meets|satisfies|fulfills} to discuss it {this week|today}.
| Far, Pfizer’s vaccine is the {only|just} one that {has|has actually} {received|gotten} {authorization|permission}, although the Moderna vaccine is {expected|anticipated} to {receive|get} the go ahead from the FDA {shortly|soon|quickly} after an advisory panel {meets|satisfies|fulfills} to discuss it this week.
} Still, it {could|might} be months {before|prior to} {enough|sufficient|adequate} {people|individuals} are {vaccinated|immunized} to slow the spread of the {virus|infection}. Moncef Slaoui, the head of Operation {Warp Speed|Lightning speed|Terminal velocity}, the federal government’s vaccine effort, {said|stated} that {officials|authorities} {hope to|wish to|intend to|want to} reach herd {immunity|resistance} {between|in between} {May|Might} and June.
While the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines {have|have actually} {exceeded|surpassed|gone beyond} expectations in {terms of|regards to} their {efficacy|effectiveness}, others {have|have actually} {met with|consulted with|met} {delays|hold-ups}. Sanofi and its partner GlaxoSmithKline {announced|revealed} on Friday that {a plan|a strategy} to {start|begin} {Phase|Stage} 3 of its vaccine trial this month would be {put on hold|postponed} after {results in|lead to} earlier trials {suggested|recommended} {inadequate|insufficient} {response|reaction|action} in older {adults|grownups}. {{Meanwhile|On the other hand}, Australia stopped its vaccine trial after trial {subjects|topics} returned {false|incorrect} positives for HIV.|Australia stopped its vaccine trial after trial {subjects|topics} returned {false|incorrect} positives for HIV.} The {effect|impact|result} was the {harmless|safe} {result|outcome} of a protein from HIV, which was {used|utilized} to {stabilize|support} the vaccine, {but|however} public health {experts|professionals|specialists} {worried|fretted|stressed} it would {undermine|weaken} {trust in|rely on} vaccines.
Ahh, oof and ouch
AHH: Even as the vaccines {provide|offer|supply} {reason|factor} for hope, the {nation|country} is approaching {nearly|almost} 300,000 {recorded|tape-recorded|taped} deaths from the {virus|infection}.
“It took 2 1/2 months for the {virus|infection} to {claim|declare} its {first|very first} 50,000 Americans, then {just|simply} one month for the death toll to {climb to|reach} 100,000,” Marc Fisher, Scott Wilson and Arelis R. Hernández report. “{Between|In between} late September and mid-November, the death tally {climbed|climbed up} from 200,000 to 250,000. Now it {has|has actually} {nearly|almost} reached the 300,000 marker in less than half that time– {even though|although|despite the fact that} treatment of the most {severe|serious|extreme} cases {has|has actually} {improved|enhanced}.”
The reports of {overwhelmed|overloaded} {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers} and {thousands of|countless} deaths {each day|every day} echo the early weeks of the pandemic when ambulance sirens {could|might} be heard at all hours in {New York|New york city} City and {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers} {turned to|relied on} {refrigerator|fridge} trucks to hold bodies. The {difference|distinction} is that now the {virus|infection} {has|has actually} {spread|spread out} {across|throughout} the {country|nation}, with {almost|practically|nearly} {nowhere|no place} spared.
“At the center of that storm, there is a gutting yet {unfathomable|abstruse} {fact|truth|reality}: {Nearly|Almost} 1 of every 1,000 Americans {already|currently} {has|has actually} {died|passed away} of covid-19– the equivalent of losing the {entire|whole} population of cities such as Orlando, Pittsburgh or St. Louis,” Marc, Scott and Arelis {write|compose}. “There {have|have actually} been more than {twice|two times} as {many|numerous|lots of} American deaths as those {killed|eliminated} in World War I. {Five|5} times as {many|numerous|lots of} as in the Vietnam War. One hundred times as {many|numerous|lots of} as in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.”
CNN {correspondent|reporter} Evan McMorris-Santoro:
It’s not {only|just} coronavirus that is exacting {a devastating|a ravaging} toll this year. {Roughly|Approximately} 356,000 more {people|individuals} {have|have actually} {died|passed away} than {usual|typical|normal} {during|throughout} the coronavirus, with more than a quarter of these deaths {attributed to|credited to} other causes, {including|consisting of} diabetes, Alzheimer’s {disease|illness}, {high blood pressure|hypertension} and pneumonia, the {New York|New york city} Times’s Denise Lu reports.
{Some of|A few of} the deaths {attributed to|credited to} these other causes {may|might} have, in {fact|truth|reality}, {been due to|been because of} undiagnosed covid-19. {{For instance|For example}, {New York|New york city} City, an early {epicenter|center} of the {virus|infection}, {has|has actually} seen deaths {attributed to|credited to} pneumonia that are {50 percent|half} {higher|greater} than {normal|typical|regular}.|New York City, an early {epicenter|center} of the {virus|infection}, {has|has actually} seen deaths {attributed|associated} to pneumonia that are 50 percent {higher|greater} than {normal|typical|regular}.} This is {probably|most likely} {because|since|due to the fact that} early covid-19 deaths were not {recognized|acknowledged} as such.
Other deaths are {likely|most likely} to be the {result|outcome} of {disruptions|interruptions|disturbances} {caused by|triggered by|brought on by} the {virus|infection}, {including|consisting of} {strains|stress|pressures} on the health-care system and {people|individuals} {avoiding|preventing} {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers} out of {fear|worry} that they {could|might} be exposed. Deaths from Alzheimer’s are 12 percent {higher|greater} than {normal|typical|regular} this year, which {could|might} be {a symptom|a sign} of {strain|stress|pressure} in the {nation|country}’s {nursing home|assisted living home|retirement home} system and {isolation|seclusion} {among|amongst} {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} of {long-term|long-lasting} care.
“The coronavirus {recession|economic downturn|economic crisis} {has|has actually} been {a relentless|a ruthless|an unrelenting} churn of high {unemployment|joblessness} and {economic|financial} {uncertainty|unpredictability}. The {government|federal government} stimulus that kept {millions of|countless} Americans from {falling into|falling under} {poverty|hardship} {earlier|previously} in the pandemic is long gone, and {new|brand-new} {aid|help} is still a dot on the horizon after months of congressional {inaction|inactiveness}. {Hunger|Appetite|Cravings} is {chronic|persistent}, at levels not seen in {decades|years},” Abha Bhattarai and Hannah Denham report.
{Retailers|Sellers|Merchants}, {police|authorities|cops} departments and security {experts|professionals|specialists} are reporting an uptick in shoplifting of staples, like {bread, pasta and {baby|infant|child}|bread, {baby|infant|child} and pasta|pasta, bread and {baby|infant|child}|pasta, {baby|infant|child} and bread|{baby|infant|child}, bread and pasta|{baby|infant|child}, pasta and bread} formula.
“We’re seeing {an increase|a boost} in low-impact {crimes|criminal offenses|criminal activities},” Jeff Zisner, {chief executive|president} of workplace security {firm|company} Aegis, {told|informed} The Post. “It’s not {a whole lot|a lot|a great deal} of {people|individuals} {going in|entering}, {{grabbing|getting} {TVs|Televisions} and running|running and {grabbing|getting} {tvs|televisions}} out the front door. It’s {a very|an extremely|a really} {different|various} {kind of|type of|sort of} {crime|criminal offense|criminal activity}– it’s {people|individuals} {stealing|taking} {consumables and {items|products}|{items|products} and consumables} {associated with|connected with|related to} {children|kids} and {babies|infants|children}.”
{{Roughly|Approximately} 12 million Americans are set to {run out of|lack} {benefits|advantages} the day after Christmas if Congress does not pass {new|brand-new} coronavirus relief {measures|steps|procedures}.|If Congress does not pass {new|brand-new} coronavirus relief {measures|steps|procedures}, {roughly|approximately} 12 million Americans are set to run out of {benefits|advantages} the day after Christmas.} Programs to {provide|offer|supply} {support|assistance} to {local|regional} food banks are {also|likewise} set to {expire|end} at the end of the year, {despite|in spite of|regardless of} the {fact|truth|reality} that the {country|nation} {has|has actually} seen a 45 percent {increase|boost} {since|because|considering that|given that} 2019 in Americans {struggling with|battling with|fighting with|dealing with|having problem with} {hunger|appetite|cravings}.
{Elsewhere|Somewhere else|In other places} in {healthcare|health care}
{Hospital|Medical facility|Healthcare facility|Health center} associations are {suing|taking legal action against} over 340B enforcement.
{Five|5} {national|nationwide} {organizations|companies} representing {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers}, {as well as|in addition to|along with} {an organization|a company} representing {hospital|medical facility|healthcare facility|health center} pharmacists, {filed|submitted} {a lawsuit|a suit|a claim} {against|versus} the Department of Health and {Human|Person|Human being} {Services|Solutions|Providers} {alleging|declaring} that the {agency|company|firm} {has|has actually} {failed|stopped working} to {enforce|impose|implement} laws {related to|associated with|connected to} the 340B program, which {requires|needs} drug {companies|business} to {offer|provide|use} {discounts|discount rates} on outpatient drugs to {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers} and other {providers|service providers|companies|suppliers} that serve {{poor|bad} or underserved|underserved or {poor|bad}} {patients|clients}.
Pharmaceutical {companies|business} {have|have actually} long {criticized|slammed} the program, arguing that {many of|a lot of|a number of|much of} the {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers} that {qualify|certify} {provide|offer|supply} little charity care. {Instead|Rather} of {passing on|handing down} drug {savings|cost savings} to {poor|bad} {patients|clients}, {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers} are {plowing|raking} the {savings|cost savings} back into their {profits|revenues|earnings}, they {say|state}. {Several|A number of|Numerous} drug {companies|business}, {including|consisting of} Novartis and AstraZeneca, {have|have actually} made {moves to|transfer to|relocate to} {restrict|limit} 340B payments by {limiting|restricting} payments to contract {pharmacies|drug stores}.
It’s {just|simply} {one of|among} a series of {setbacks|problems|obstacles} to the program: In late July, an appeals court {upheld|supported|maintained|promoted} a Trump administration {rule|guideline} that cut the {discount|discount rate} program by {nearly|almost} 30 percent.
{{But now|Now|And now|Today} {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers}, {hit|struck} hard by the {virus|infection} {already|currently}, are {pushing|pressing} back with the {lawsuit|suit|claim}, which {aims|intends} to {compel|oblige|force} HHS to {require|need} drug {companies|business} {provide|offer|supply} the {discounts|discount rates}.
| Now {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers}, {hit|struck} hard by the {virus|infection} {already|currently}, are {pushing|pressing} back with the {lawsuit|suit|claim}, which {aims|intends} to {compel|oblige|force} HHS to {require|need} drug {companies|business} {provide|offer|supply} the {discounts|discount rates}.
}”The 340B program plays {a critical|a crucial|a vital|an important} {role|function} in {helping|assisting} {eligible|qualified} {hospitals|medical facilities|healthcare facilities|health centers} {provide|offer|supply} {a wide range|a wide variety|a large range|a vast array} of {{comprehensive|extensive|detailed|thorough} services and {low-cost|inexpensive|affordable|low-priced} drugs|{low-cost|inexpensive|affordable|low-priced} drugs and {comprehensive|extensive|detailed|thorough} services} to {vulnerable|susceptible} {patients|clients} and {communities|neighborhoods}, {many of|a lot of|a number of|much of} which {have|have actually} been the hardest {hit|struck} by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rick Pollack, the president of the American {Hospital|Medical facility|Healthcare facility|Health center} Association, {said|stated} in {a statement|a declaration}.
{Advocates|Supporters} {urge|advise|prompt} for an extension in open {enrollment|registration} for {health insurance|medical insurance}.
Open {enrollment|registration} for {health insurance|medical insurance} is {scheduled|arranged|set up} to close in 80 percent of {marketplaces|markets} {across|throughout} the {nation|country} on Tuesday, {but|however} some groups are {pushing for|promoting} an extension {amid|amidst|in the middle of} the coronavirus pandemic, which they {say|state} {has|has actually} {disrupted|interrupted|interfered with} {enrollment|registration} efforts even as {millions of|countless} Americans {find|discover} themselves without {insurance|insurance coverage} due to {job|task} losses.
Covered California, a service {aimed at|targeted at|focused on} {connecting|linking} {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} of California with {health insurance|medical insurance} under the Affordable Care Act, {announced|revealed} {plans|strategies} to extend its open {enrollment|registration} {period|duration} through Dec. 30 and {sent|sent out} a letter to federal health {officials|authorities} {urging|advising|prompting} them to do the {same|exact same|very same}.
“Keeping the doors open as long as possible {during|throughout} the worst {health care|healthcare} crisis in more than a century is neither {{new|brand-new} or {extraordinary|remarkable|amazing}|{extraordinary|remarkable|amazing} or {new|brand-new}}, rather it is the {right|best|ideal} policy for Americans {during|throughout} this {critical|crucial|vital|important} time,” Peter V. Lee, the director of Covered California, {wrote|composed} in a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma.
Sugar rush
Source: washingtonpost.com