As balance billing becomes more common, courts have stepped in to mediate cases and determine what "average market price" a hospital can actually charge.
In 2014, the head of Montana's health care plan for state workers was told to bring prices down, "or else." She rose to the challenge.
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{
"uri": "/2019/03/22/more-states-turning-to-medicare-based-contracting-for-employee-health-care/",
"title": "More states turning to 'Medicare-based contracting' for employee health care",
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"summary": "Those in the benefits industry know the strategy by a different name: reference-based pricing.",
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{
"uri": "/2019/03/18/are-direct-enrollment-sites-steering-consumers-toward-less-comprehensive-plans/",
"title": "Are direct-enrollment sites steering consumers toward less-comprehensive plans?",
"byline": "Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News",
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"summary": "Consumers who use alternative portals don't have the same experience as applicants accessing state or federal markets, a new report says. ",
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{
"uri": "/2019/01/22/shutdown-throws-a-wrench-in-federal-workers-health-care/",
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"byline": "Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News",
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"summary": "Although government workers won't lose their health insurance, an unknown number are in limbo, they're still unable to make important changes.",
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{
"uri": "/2018/12/31/short-term-plans-a-boon-for-brokers-and-insurers/",
"title": "Short-term plans: A boon for brokers and insurers",
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"prettyDate": "December 31, 2018",
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"summary": "Brokers can see commissions on short-term health insurance policies hit 20 percent or more.",
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{
"uri": "/2018/12/26/balance-billing-court-cases-force-hospitals-to-justify-charges/",
"title": "Balance-billing court cases force hospitals to justify charges",
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"summary": "As balance billing becomes more common, courts have stepped in to mediate cases and determine what \"average market price\" a hospital can actually charge.",
"body": null
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"title": "Opposing Trump actions bring more uncertainty to ACA marketplaces",
"byline": "Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News",
"kicker": "Market Insights",
"prettyDate": "October 30, 2018",
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"summary": "The efforts are dramatically reshaping the ACA and the individual insurance market to one that looks more as it did before the 2010 law.",
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{
"uri": "/2018/10/12/aca-premiums-dip-who-gets-the-credit/",
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"summary": "After two years of double-digit price hikes, the average ACA premium will drop by 1.5 percent for 2019. What's behind the drop?",
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{
"uri": "/2018/09/12/time-for-federal-action-against-balance-billing/",
"title": "Time for federal action against balance billing?",
"byline": "Michelle Andrews and Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News",
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"prettyDate": "September 12, 2018",
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"summary": "Health researchers and advocates have identified a number of potential solutions that could tackle the problem of balance billing. Take a look.",
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{
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{
"uri": "/2018/06/25/montanas-experiment-with-reference-based-pricing-w/",
"title": "Montana's experiment with reference-based pricing: Will other states follow?",
"byline": "Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News",
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"summary": "In 2014, the head of Montana's health care plan for state workers was told to bring prices down, \"or else.\" She rose to the challenge.",
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