The State Flexibility to Stabilize the Market Grant Program (“State Flexibility Grant Program”) was developed to support states as they implement several of the market reforms and consumer protections under Title I of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This new funding opportunity builds upon many of the efforts currently underway in states related to the Consumer Protection grant funds, which were awarded in October 2016. PCG assisted many states with projects related to those consumer protections grant funds and our team has used that experience to compile the following insights and suggested activities to help states with their grant applications for this new federal funding opportunity.

The administration released its budget proposal on February 12, 2018. As expected, the proposal includes a number of changes related to health care. The budget plan revives the Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal, with a proposal similar to the Graham Cassidy Heller Johnson bill. Specifically, the budget plan proposes a staged repeal and replace, with the replace being a block grant program for states.

Last week, the PCG Boston Office volunteered to facilitate sessions at City Year Boston's Mid-Year Summit focusing on Life After City Year (LACY). PCG staff led 245 corps members through a session on Networking 101 and participated in the 18-Minute Networking exercise with other professionals from around Boston. .

On February 20, 2018, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) jointly promulgated a proposed rule on Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance (STLDI) plans. The proposed regulatory changes seek to carry out the directions given in Executive Order 13813, “Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States,” to expand access to STLDI plans. STLDI plans are excluded from the definition of individual health insurance coverage and, therefore, are not required to meet the coverage and consumer protection requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).