Page 1 - aruba-today-20201030
P. 1
Aruba Living Today
Friday
October 30, 2020
T: 582-7800
www.arubatoday.com
facebook.com/arubatoday
instagram.com/arubatoday
Page 10
E
Y
l
g
n
L
s
’
a
N
O
a
p
s
r
e
p
w
h
s
i
e
n
Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper
A
r
b
u
COST
CUTTERS
Trump rule says health plans must disclose costs up front
In this Aug. 23, 2020, file photo, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks during a media briefing in the James Brady Briefing Room of the White
House in Washington.
Associated Press
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR A related Trump administration transparency transcends political les, president of America’s Health
Associated Press price disclosure requirement ap- partisanship. “It will be impossible Insurance Plans, said in a state-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trying to pull plying to hospitals is facing a fed- to walk backwards on this,” Health ment. “This is precisely the opposite
back the veil on health care costs eral lawsuit from the industry, alleg- and Human Services Secretary of what Americans want in their
to encourage competition, the ing coercion and interference with Alex Azar said. “How do you fight health care.” The new rules are
Trump administration on Thursday business practices. transparency on prices? How do being issued jointly by HHS, the La-
finalized a requirement for insurers The idea behind the new regula- you actually articulate the argu- bor Department and the Treasury,
to tell consumers up front the ac- tions on insurers is to empower pa- ment that you should conceal which share jurisdiction over health
tual prices for common tests and tients to become better consumers what something costs from the insurance plans. They would:
procedures. A major health insur- of health care, thereby helping to person trying to purchase it?” In- — Starting in 2022, require insurers
ance industry group said the regu- drive down costs. But the require- surance companies contend that to make available data files on the
lation would have the opposite ef- ments would take effect gradually the rules will boomerang economi- costs of various procedures, allow-
fect, raising premiums. over a four-year period, and pa- cally, by undercutting their abil- ing technology companies to de-
The late-innings policy play ahead tients face a considerable learning ity to bargain with hospitals, drug sign apps that let patients see costs
of Election Day comes as President curve to make cost-versus-quality companies, doctors and other in- not only under their own plan but
Donald Trump has been ham- decisions about procedures like dustry players. Providers now ac- other insurers’ plans as well.
mered on health care by Demo- knee replacements or hernia re- cepting discounted rates will press — Starting in 2023, require insurers
cratic challenger Joe Biden for pairs. Add to that political uncer- to get paid more once they see to make available to their policy-
the administration’s handling of tainty about the policy’s survival what their upper-end competi- holders cost-sharing details on 500
the coronavirus pandemic and if Trump doesn’t get reelected, tors are getting. “The final rule will specific services, medical equip-
its unrelenting efforts to overturn and the whole effort is running into work to reduce competition and ment and other items, as called for
“Obamacare,” the 2010 law pro- skepticism. Administration officials push health care prices higher — by the government.
viding coverage to more than 20 are adamant the changes will not lower — for American families,
million people. stand, arguing the goal of price patients, and taxpayers,” Matt Ey- Continued on Page 2