Kasich, Hickenlooper reach deal on ObamaCare markets
By Peter Sullivan
08/28/17 02:33 PM EDT - The Hill
Govs. John Kasich of Ohio (R) and John Hickenlooper of Colorado (D) announced
Monday that they have reached an agreement on a bipartisan proposal to stabilize
ObamaCare markets.
The governors, who have been calling for bipartisanship on healthcare in a
series of recent interviews, are not yet releasing the details of their
stabilization plan.
They are first going to seek support from other governors in both parties
that joined
them on a letter rejecting Congressfs ObamaCare repeal efforts last
month.
Kasich and Hickenlooper said they hope to release more details later
this week.
Kasich and Hickenlooper said
last week that their plan could include funding key ObamaCare payments known
as cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), which President Trump has threatened to
cancel.
Another aspect of the plan, they said, could be a program to provide funding
to bring down premiums by helping insurers cover the costs of the sickest
enrollees, an idea known as reinsurance.
Kasich also mentioned easing up on the healthcare law's mandate for employers
to provide coverage so that the mandate would only apply to companies with more
workers.
Hickenlooper is slated
to testify along with other governors at a Senate Health Committee hearing
on ObamaCare stabilization next week.
Similar ideas, especially the funding of CSR payments, are in discussion in
the Senate Health Committee, along with a bipartisan group in the House known as
the Problem Solvers Caucus.
Kasich and Hickenlooper have been doing a range of joint appearances. Kasich
on Sunday batted down reports that the pair could be considering running on a
bipartisan ticket for the White House in 2020.