Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

Low Obamacare Premiums to Soften Blow for Those Losing Medicaid

Ganny Belloni
March 16, 2023, 5:44 PM

CMS will take active role during Medicaid eligibility checks

All states required to take 14 months to complete checks

One-third of the millions of individuals expected to lose Medicaid coverage as eligibility checks resume this spring will qualify for Affordable Care Act coverage with low or no premiums, a top Medicaid official said.

The Department of Health and Human Services believes the majority of those whose Medicaid eligibility will be redetermined will remain eligible, and the government is actively collaborating with states to make sure beneficiaries don’t lose coverage because of administrative issues, Daniel Tsai, director of the federal Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, said Thursday in an interview with reporters

see full article at :

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/low-obamacare-premiums-to-soften-blow-for-those-losing-medicaid

#AffordableCareAct #DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices #CenterforMedicaidandCHIPServices #DanielTsai #Medicaid #CMS

Schuette Announces Win for Religious Liberty: Federal Judge Blocks Implementation Of Obamacare Mandate in Michigan Case

Excerpt from: Michigan.gov (click for full article)

Patti's comment: I am hoping this will get appealed, but just wanted to share the news with you all.

 

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced that a federal judge has issued a ruling blocking the implementation of a controversial U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate that would force religious employers to violate their religious and faith-based beliefs by providing insurance plans that cover services, including abortion-inducing drugs, that conflict with those beliefs.

The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by Michigan-based Weingartz Supply Company and Legatus, an organization of Catholic business owners, to defend religious liberty and challenge the unconstitutional Obama administration mandate.  Schuette filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs on September 27, 2012.

"Religious liberty is America's first freedom," said Schuette.  "Any rule, regulation or law that forces American employers to violate their free exercise of religion is a flat-out violation of the First Amendment and federal law, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

"This victory is an important step in defeating an unconstitutional mandate that will force private sector job-providers across America to violate their conscience.  The First Amendment applies to everyone, and we must defend religious liberty for all, not just the chosen few dictated by the federal government."

On October 31, 2012, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland in the Eastern District of Michigan ruled in Legatus et al. v Kathleen Sebelius, et al. that the case can move forward into the discovery phase and signed an order preliminarily blocking the federal government's implementation of the HHS Mandate against Weingartz due to the "risk presented here of substantially infringing the sincere exercise of religious beliefs."  The mandate will remain enjoined pending the outcome of the case (Case no. 12-12061).