Health reform is approaching, AHCCCS is making a decision

Health reform is approaching, AHCCCS is making a decision (Alberta Times) With Obama's successful re-election, the once vague federal health care reform plan has a new interpretation. 11…

Health care reform is approaching, AHCCCS is making a decision (Alberta Times) With Obama's successful re-election, the once vague federal health care reform plan has a new interpretation. On November 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a 331-page new medical reform regulation, which mainly includes three aspects: first, requiring medical insurance companies to provide services to all insured persons and not discriminating against customers on the basis of congenital and chronic diseases; second, listing the insurance services that must be covered by medical insurance exchanges, and requiring state governments to develop a "benchmark medical insurance plan" for the medical insurance market before 2014; Third, employers are required to add content that promotes employees’ “health” into the medical insurance benefits they provide to their employees. National medical reform will be officially implemented in 2014. According to the new regulations, the medical insurance exchange and online medical insurance market must be put into operation before October 1, 2013. Customers can then choose the medical insurance products that suit them and determine whether they are eligible for tax credits or receive medical subsidy plans. The new regulations mainly define the responsibilities and obligations of medical insurance companies, corporate employers and state governments in implementing "universal health care reform." Data shows that about 129 million people in the United States have congenital diseases. The new regulations stipulate that such patients shall not be "discriminated" by medical insurance companies. Not only that, the new regulations also prohibit "gender discrimination" and stipulate that medical insurance companies must not charge female insured higher fees than male insured. The new regulations set limits on the additional fees that medical insurance companies can charge based on factors such as the customer's age, living environment, family size, and whether they smoke. The new regulations also require medical insurance companies to ensure that the medical insurance services provided to customers are continued every year. The new regulations stipulate that medical insurance exchanges must clearly list the types of services provided, including emergency services, hospitalization, maternal health care, prescription drugs and preventive treatment in 10 situations. The new regulations also require medical insurance companies to propose specific service plans to prove to consumers that they can afford 60% of their annual medical insurance expenses. In terms of employer responsibilities, the new regulations require employers to simultaneously promote employee “health plans.” Employers are required to provide discounts on medical insurance to employees who successfully quit smoking, lose weight, and lower their cholesterol. Employers are not allowed to discriminate in the proportion of medical insurance expenses on the grounds that employees fail to meet the above-mentioned health indicators. Although the new health care reform regulations are welcomed by supporters, they also face strong resistance from the Republican Party. Back home, Governor Brewer has his own version of health care reform, and lawmakers will face a big decision -- all or nothing -- on the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). What all means is that President Obama's health care law will expand Medicaid benefits, including the implementation of a mandatory insurance policy for everyone, which will enable 300,000 people in the state to enjoy federal government Medicaid in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. In this case, AHCCCS will be shut down. None means not participating in the federal health care reform and maintaining the original state Medicaid system called AHCCCS. The state government will increase funding here, but not much. At most, it will increase by 130,000 people on the basis of the original number of beneficiaries. AHCCCS is a Medicaid program provided by the Arizona government to residents of the state. Recipients must meet conditions such as low-income families or children, seniors aged 65 and over, physical disabilities, and unwanted pregnancies. It covers one fifth of the state and accounts for 16.2% of the state budget (9.9% 10 years ago). The governor has argued with the Legislature every year in recent years over whether to increase or reduce funding for AHCCCS. This time, the governor's spokesman Matthew Benson said the amount involved was $300 million. According to the new medical reform regulations, federal subsidies seem to increase, but state government budgets will also increase, and then there is the old problem of financial shortages... If the Mayan predictions are reliable, and December 21 is not the end of the world but the beginning of a new century, everyone will have to wait and see how legislators resolve this dispute.