A group of moderate, swing state Democrats are the latest to sound the alarm over the impending expiration in December of the more generous ACA tax credits that were part of the American Rescue Plan, urging House and Senate leadership in a letter Monday (May 23) to quickly craft a reconciliation bill that extends the credits and avoids large rate increases and enrollment losses. On Tuesday, Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood (D) who spearheaded the letter, joined pro-Affordable Care Act advocates...

A RAND Corporation report out last week found employer health plans pay an average 224% more than Medicare prices and suggest the information could help both employers and federal and state policymakers take steps to reduce spending. But the American Hospital Association says the study relies on incomplete data and ignores geographic variations. AHA also says the results prove that Medicare underpays for services and linking commercial costs to the federal rates would exacerbate hospitals’ financial challenges. The RAND report...