BCBSM INC

Health Issues

Issues: Affordable Care Act (ACA), ACA subsidies and tax credits; Telehealth/ telehealth flexibilities; ACA Fraud; Telehealth/ telehealth flexibilities; Transparency in coverage; Surprise Billing; 2025 Proposed NBPP/Individual Market/ACA exchanges; Rural healthcare; Prior Authorization; Hospital Consolidation; Employer-provided health coverage; Cyber Attack/ Cyber Security; Managed Care Organizations; Hospital Billing; Anti-tiering, Anti-steering; Health Equity; Program integrity in the individual marketplace; Federal Budget Process Bills: S. 1451 Healthy Competition for Better Care Act To ban anticompetitive terms in facility and insurance contracts that limit access to higher quality, lower cost care. Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN] H.R.3120 - Healthy Competition for Better Care Act To ban anticompetitive terms in facility and insurance contracts that limit access to higher quality, lower cost care. Sponsor: Rep. Steel, Michelle [R-CA-45] H.R.2630 - Safe Step Act To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan to provide an exceptions process for any medication step therapy protocol, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2] S.652 - Safe Step Act To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan to provide an exceptions process for any medication step therapy protocol, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] S. 1001 Telehealth Expansion Act of 2023 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the exemption for telehealth services from certain high deductible health plan rules. Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] H.R. 1843 - Telehealth Expansion Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the exemption for telehealth services from certain high deductible health plan rules. Sponsor: Rep. Steel, Michelle [R-CA-45] S.1869 - SITE Act To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to ensure fair billing practice for items and services furnished by off-campus hospital locations, to amend such title XVIII to provide for payments for graduate nursing education costs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN] H.R.3417 - FAIR Act To ensure fair billing practices for items and services furnished by off-campus outpatient departments of a provider. Sponsor: Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-OK-1] H.R. 5378 Lower Costs, More Transparency Act To promote price transparency in the health care sector, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5] H.R.3630 - No Surprises Act To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to protect health care consumers from surprise billing practices, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6] S.2016 - CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to telehealth services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] H.R. 4189, CONNECT for Health Act To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to telehealth services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] H.R. 6033, SPEAK Act To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a task force to improve access to health care information technology for non-English speakers. Sponsor: Rep. Steel, Michelle [R-CA-45] H.R. 10545, American Relief Act, 2025 Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4] H.R. 5163 TREATS Act To amend the Controlled Substances Act to allow for the use of telehealth in substance use disorder treatment, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6] S.3193 - TREATS Act To amend the Controlled Substances Act to allow for the use of telehealth in substance use disorder treatment, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] S.891 - Bipartisan Health Care Act A bill to extend expiring health provisions and improve health care delivery. Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] H.R.1909 - Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2025 To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize support for State-based maternal mortality review committees, to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disseminate best practices on maternal mortality prevention to hospitals, State-based professional societies, and perinatal quality collaboratives, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] S.46 - Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand eligibility for the refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan. Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] H.R.247 - Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand eligibility for the refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan. Sponsor: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] H.R.3237 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require each off-campus outpatient department of a provider to include a unique identifier on claims for items and services, and to require providers with a department of a provider to submit to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services an attestation with respect to each such department. Sponsor: Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13] H.R.10445 - Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 This bill provides continuing FY2025 appropriations for federal agencies and provides emergency funding for disaster relief. It also extends, modifies, or establishes various programs and authorities throughout the federal government. Sponsor: Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4] H.R.3120 - Healthy Competition for Better Care Act To ban anticompetitive terms in facility and insurance contracts that limit access to higher quality, lower cost care. Sponsor: Rep. Steel, Michelle [R-CA-45] H.R.3029 - Primary Care Enhancement Act of 2023 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals with direct primary care service arrangements to remain eligible individuals for purposes of health savings accounts, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11]