Falling 03-20-17
For speaking requests, comments and questions, please email melissa@michaelpramirez.com
Although he travels frequently, Michael P. Ramirez works and lives near Los Angeles, California.
Although he travels frequently, Michael P. Ramirez works and lives near Los Angeles, California.
Cruz, Lee, Meadows Discussed GOP Health Plan with Trump Team at Mar-a-Lago
Meadows spokeswoman confirms meeting to TWS, but details are unclear.
3:18 PM, MAR 19, 2017 | By CHRIS DEATON THE WEEKLY STANDARD
Texas senator Ted Cruz, one of the leading critics of the congressional GOP's health reform plan, revealed Sunday that he and two of his colleagues met White House officials at Mar-a-Lago this weekend to discuss changes to the American Health Care Act.
During an interview with Face the Nation, Cruz reiterated his opposition to the legislation in its present form, before adding that he was still working with Sen. Mike Lee, House Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Mark Meadows, and members of the administration to alter the package.
"I am spending night and day meeting with House members, meeting with senators, meeting with the administration. Just yesterday, I spent three hours at Mar-a-Lago with Mike Lee and with Mark Meadows negotiating with the president's team, trying to fix this bill," Cruz said. When asked if President Trump "got" his concerns, he only added that the two of them have had "multiple conversations."
A Freedom Caucus spokeswoman confirmed to THE WEEKLY STANDARD that the meeting took place, but didn't provide details pending other caucus members being briefed on its particulars. "The Freedom Caucus continues to be in constant communication with the White House and continues to negotiate in good faith, in hopes of reaching a consensus that is good for the American people," Alyssa Farah said.
Cruz and Meadows published an op-ed last Wednesday arguing that the AHCA could include more provisions rolling back Obamacare and withstand the scrutiny of Senate budget rules. Under the congressional "reconciliation" process, Republicans are attempting to undo the budget-related portions of the Affordable Care Act, which they can accomplish with only 51 yes votes in the upper chamber. But the bill leaves murkier aspects of the law untouched, like its insurance mandates pertaining to coverage of those with pre-existing conditions.
"We can do that in the House bill," Cruz declared Sunday.
Republicans are at work making changes to the AHCA ahead of an expected House vote on Thursday, but they're not the ambitious ones Cruz supports. President Trump and a group of House conservatives agreed Friday to some Medicaid tweaks, imposing work requirements for recipients and giving states the option to receive the program's funds as a block grant. read more
Meadows spokeswoman confirms meeting to TWS, but details are unclear.
3:18 PM, MAR 19, 2017 | By CHRIS DEATON THE WEEKLY STANDARD
Texas senator Ted Cruz, one of the leading critics of the congressional GOP's health reform plan, revealed Sunday that he and two of his colleagues met White House officials at Mar-a-Lago this weekend to discuss changes to the American Health Care Act.
During an interview with Face the Nation, Cruz reiterated his opposition to the legislation in its present form, before adding that he was still working with Sen. Mike Lee, House Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Mark Meadows, and members of the administration to alter the package.
"I am spending night and day meeting with House members, meeting with senators, meeting with the administration. Just yesterday, I spent three hours at Mar-a-Lago with Mike Lee and with Mark Meadows negotiating with the president's team, trying to fix this bill," Cruz said. When asked if President Trump "got" his concerns, he only added that the two of them have had "multiple conversations."
A Freedom Caucus spokeswoman confirmed to THE WEEKLY STANDARD that the meeting took place, but didn't provide details pending other caucus members being briefed on its particulars. "The Freedom Caucus continues to be in constant communication with the White House and continues to negotiate in good faith, in hopes of reaching a consensus that is good for the American people," Alyssa Farah said.
Cruz and Meadows published an op-ed last Wednesday arguing that the AHCA could include more provisions rolling back Obamacare and withstand the scrutiny of Senate budget rules. Under the congressional "reconciliation" process, Republicans are attempting to undo the budget-related portions of the Affordable Care Act, which they can accomplish with only 51 yes votes in the upper chamber. But the bill leaves murkier aspects of the law untouched, like its insurance mandates pertaining to coverage of those with pre-existing conditions.
"We can do that in the House bill," Cruz declared Sunday.
Republicans are at work making changes to the AHCA ahead of an expected House vote on Thursday, but they're not the ambitious ones Cruz supports. President Trump and a group of House conservatives agreed Friday to some Medicaid tweaks, imposing work requirements for recipients and giving states the option to receive the program's funds as a block grant. read more
Obamacare satisfaction falling, survey reveals02-03-2017 Catlane / iStock HEALTHCARERISK MANAGEMENT REVIEW
Following two years of steady improvements in marketplace health plan satisfaction, the fallout from the departure of strong service competitors Aetna, United Healthcare and Humana is triggering negative impacts on overall Obamacare satisfaction was revealed in the results of the 2017 Black Book health plan consumer survey.
Some 34,800 consumers who were continually enrolled in Obamacare plans in between January 2015 and February 2017 were polled since open enrollment began in November 2016.
The strongest dissatisfaction was traced to 2017 marketplace plans with enduring member services failures including: Declining customer service support (96 percent of all Obamacare plans); Premium price increases (90 percent); Narrowing provider networks or excluding their former providers (80 percent); Curtailed benefits (77 percent); and Lack of competitors in the markets to choose from (61 percent).
Member service interaction dramatically dropped in satisfaction noting live call center support was substandard to over 92 percent Obamacare members comparing year to year results.
"The inflow of members into the last remaining plans is significantly effecting service levels," said Douglas Brown, managing partner of Black Book Research.
Length of member problem resolution has extended to an average polled 31.4 days from 12.5 days on average in 2016. 48 percent of Obamacare enrollees complain of web site downtime stretching weeks and wait times with call centers spreading over an hour since November 1, 2016.
Obamacare insurers with little market competition in states with high enrollments are disappointing their members the most.
"Maintaining a high level of support has been nearly impossible since this last open enrollment began as several plans accepting the bulk of 2017 regional enrollees failed to congruently ramp up member services support to process claims, respond to enrollment issues, answer provider questions, denials, authorizations, and payment postings," said Brown of the results.
In February 2016, 77 percent of the 21,800 private Obamacare enrollees polled had scored their health plan satisfaction as good, very good or excellent. The national average on the Black Book satisfaction scale for all Obamacare health plans surveyed was 7.87 of 10.00
This year, only 22 percent of the 44,200 private Obamacare enrollees polled placed their health plan satisfaction as good, very good or excellent. The national average on the Black Book satisfaction scale for all remaining marketplace plans surveyed in 2017 is 5.29 of 10.00
"The declining number of marketplace plans are evidently losing the consumer-centric approach to keep their members engaged, particularly as compared to the commercial or employer health plans that are not participating in Obamacare," said Brown of the survey results. read more
Following two years of steady improvements in marketplace health plan satisfaction, the fallout from the departure of strong service competitors Aetna, United Healthcare and Humana is triggering negative impacts on overall Obamacare satisfaction was revealed in the results of the 2017 Black Book health plan consumer survey.
Some 34,800 consumers who were continually enrolled in Obamacare plans in between January 2015 and February 2017 were polled since open enrollment began in November 2016.
The strongest dissatisfaction was traced to 2017 marketplace plans with enduring member services failures including: Declining customer service support (96 percent of all Obamacare plans); Premium price increases (90 percent); Narrowing provider networks or excluding their former providers (80 percent); Curtailed benefits (77 percent); and Lack of competitors in the markets to choose from (61 percent).
Member service interaction dramatically dropped in satisfaction noting live call center support was substandard to over 92 percent Obamacare members comparing year to year results.
"The inflow of members into the last remaining plans is significantly effecting service levels," said Douglas Brown, managing partner of Black Book Research.
Length of member problem resolution has extended to an average polled 31.4 days from 12.5 days on average in 2016. 48 percent of Obamacare enrollees complain of web site downtime stretching weeks and wait times with call centers spreading over an hour since November 1, 2016.
Obamacare insurers with little market competition in states with high enrollments are disappointing their members the most.
"Maintaining a high level of support has been nearly impossible since this last open enrollment began as several plans accepting the bulk of 2017 regional enrollees failed to congruently ramp up member services support to process claims, respond to enrollment issues, answer provider questions, denials, authorizations, and payment postings," said Brown of the results.
In February 2016, 77 percent of the 21,800 private Obamacare enrollees polled had scored their health plan satisfaction as good, very good or excellent. The national average on the Black Book satisfaction scale for all Obamacare health plans surveyed was 7.87 of 10.00
This year, only 22 percent of the 44,200 private Obamacare enrollees polled placed their health plan satisfaction as good, very good or excellent. The national average on the Black Book satisfaction scale for all remaining marketplace plans surveyed in 2017 is 5.29 of 10.00
"The declining number of marketplace plans are evidently losing the consumer-centric approach to keep their members engaged, particularly as compared to the commercial or employer health plans that are not participating in Obamacare," said Brown of the survey results. read more