News Briefs
✦ During the 2020 open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, approximately 11.4 million people selected or were automatically reenrolled in plans across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to new data CMS released on April 1. That means signups held steady compared with 2019, when 11.4 million enrolled, and 2018, when 11.8 million signed up. Average premiums in the 38 states that use HealthCare.gov, meanwhile, dropped 3% from $612 in 2019 to $595 in 2020. Read more at https://go.cms.gov/3bOxGKu.
✦ On March 30, CMS unveiled several significant regulatory changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including easing the conversion of outpatient facilities to hospital use. Other new or changed policies included rules allowing community COVID-19 screening sites, encouraging a move of non-COVID-19 hospital procedures to outpatient sites, allowing ambulances to transport patients to non-hospital facilities, and establishing special dialysis facilities for those stricken with COVID-19. The agency also suspended scheduled audits of Medicare Advantage organizations, Part D sponsors, Medicare-Medicaid plans and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly organizations until further notice, and will focus instead on more pressing oversight priorities. Read more at https://go.cms.gov/2JvxMKR.
