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                                                                                      October 30, 2020
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                 Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper
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                  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
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