There is no shortage of advertisements of recent policies that affect medical care, from possible medicaid cuts to changes in the administration.
Several of these ads have important implications for employers as they develop their health benefits strategies. In a recent interview at the Business Group On Health Conference in Nashville, Ellen Kelsay, CEO of the employer’s defense organization, shared the political trends that are the most important thing for now:
1. Macro -economic trends: Employers are already dealing with health costs, and some current macroconomic trends can exacerbate those problems. For example, it may have been reduced to Medicaid funds, which could have a serious impact on employers, since the commercial market has subsidized the Medicaid program, according to Kelsay. Hospitals and suppliers will often collect more commercial plans to compensate for the loss incurred with the programs financed by the Government.
“I am a ghost of some health plans executives that will say things with a lot of surroundings, such as:” Well, if we are being cut here, that means we will have to change and collect the commercial market more. As if it were just an assumption that the commercial market will maintain payment, and they cannot, “he said.
In addition, the Trump administration has urged a 145% rate on all goods imported from China. Many medical care products, including active pharmaceutical ingredients and medical devices, are manufactured in China. It has also introduced a 10% tax on the goods of other countries. And there are groups that thesis tariffs could further increase the costs for employers, Kelsay said.
2. Administrative changes: There are several new players in the Trump administration that affect medical care, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in health and humans and Dr. Mehmet Oz in Medicare centers and Medicaid services. The business group on health is attentive to “what some of these new players are thinking, what could be a promotion that could be very beneficial for employer’s plans and to plan members, or could potential, he said.
She cools the example of the Make America Again (Maha) initiative by RFK Jr. there are elements of Maha that the health group on health supports, as an emphasis on prevention and nutrition. However, there are also maha parts that are very worrying, including minimal or vaccines.
“Yes, healthy eating and nutrition are important,” Kelsay said. “But also a large part of prevention is to make sure that vaccinated children and adults are vaccinated, and if there is another pandemic, people get the vaccines they need.
3. Threats to Erisa: There are leg challenges for the Employee Retirement Income Law (ERISA) of state and local laws and other players. Erisa is a federal law that establishes minimum standards for private health plans. The business group on health is a more important or protecting Erisa, arguing that it is essential to establish a regulatory structure consistent for employers.
“Certainly for our members who are large and self -assured employers operating in many states of the United States, having the ability to have a uniform and consistent national plan is significant or importance for them,” Kelsay said. “Then, when there are some threats for Erisa, that creates some concern for employers.”
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