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Social Security Adds New Compassionate Allowances:

Social Security Adds New Compassionate Allowances On August 12, 2024 the Social Security Administration (SSA) added 9 new conditions to its “Compassionate Allowance” list. The list includes conditions that t...

Wisconsin’s DHS announced it is keeping the “just right” timing for BadgerCare renewals, a process used during the unwinding of continuous Medicaid eligibility. The state has updated its renewal website as well. We explain:

“Just Right” Timing for BadgerCare Renewals Continues Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services has announced it is keeping the “just right” timing for BadgerCare renewals, a process used during the unwinding of...

It's the 2024 Partisan Primary today - election day in Wisconsin! Find your polling place or review a sample ballot: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/

: A new series of reports details shortcomings in hospital financial assistance: a shortfall in charity care provided, burdensome requirements on patients, & notable racial disparities.

Press Release: Dollar For's Research Reveals $14 Billion Gap in Hospital Financial Assistance Programs – Dollar For May 2nd, 2024 – Dollar For, a national nonprofit organization that assists patients in accessing hospital charity care, has released groundbreaking findings from its 2023 research studies to assess the effectiveness of hospital financial assistance programs.  The results show a $14 Billion shortf...

: Milwaukee County said they would do it - and they did! As of August 1, there are NO outstanding birth tax judgments in Milwaukee County! The county expunged over $67 million in medical debt actions. Read our press release here:

In the News - ABC for Health News stories featuring ABC for Health.

ABC for Health celebrates the expungement of over $67 million in medical debt actions against young families in Milwaukee County for birthing expenses:

www.safetyweb.org

This , a reminder that we have sample debt validation letters in our "Fighting Forward: Challenging Medical Debt" guide:

Fighting Forward: Challenging Medical Debt Wisconsin is among a small handful of states that continues to pursue this policy, and takes the most aggressive enforcement posture in the nation, collecting over $16 million in 2016. Unlike child support, none of the recovered dollars go to support the children and families – it is all directed ...

: Wisconsin is continuing the "just right" renewal window for BadgerCare, a practice started during the Unwinding. This means if you renew in the first half of the month your renewal is due, your coverage stays active while your renewal is being processed, even if processing takes into the following month. Just right dates are now on the DHS website:

ForwardHealth: Health Care Renewals Learn how renewals for BadgerCare Plus and other Wisconsin Medicaid programs work.

In today's Pulse Newsletter, a round up of Medicaid, Marketplace, and Social Security policy updates:

Pulse Newsletter: Medicaid, Marketplace, & Social Security Updates Pulse Playlist - HealthWatch Wisconsin, Inc.   Medicaid, Marketplace, & Social Security Updates   CMS announced it is cracking down on rogue health insurance agents and brokers. The announcement comes

Under a new final rule that took effect on June 22, 2024, the Social Security Administration changed how it considered “past work” for purposes of disability benefit eligibility. We explain:

Social Security Announces Improved Application for Disability Benefits Under a new final rule that took effect on June 22, 2024, the Social Security Administration changed how it considered “past work” for purposes of disability...

This , worried about the burden of medical debt as the uninsurance rate increases. A new CBO report says the uninsured rate is projected to be 8.9% by 2034. We explain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEq_l0gFp0o

: The Feds are cracking down on rogue insurance agents and brokers who are enrolling or switching plan enrollments for consumers without their knowledge or consent. We explain:

Feds Take Action on Rogue Insurance Agents The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it is cracking down on rogue insurance agents and brokers. The announcement comes after an increasin...

Premiums return to the Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) in Wisconsin in August. We explain:

Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) Premiums Return On June 3, Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services issued an Operations Memo detailing the upcoming changes to the Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) Policies, ...

On July 1, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued an Operations Memo announcing public benefit eligibility updates for certain Ukrainians. The announcement followed a change in Federal Law that allowed certain people arriving from Ukraine to be treated like “refugees” for purposes of BadgerCare Plus, Medicaid and FoodShare programs. Some folks denied coverage after October 1 are encouraged to reapply. We explain.

BadgerCare Eligibility Change for Certain Ukrainians On July 1, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued an Operations Memo announcing public benefit eligibility updates for certain Ukrainians. The an...

A Federal Judge in Mississippi blocked the new HHS rule to strengthen non-discrimination protections in health care. We explain:

Judge Blocks Rule on Non-Discrimination in Health Care On July 3, two days before it was to take effect, a Federal Judge in Mississippi blocked the US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Righ...

This , a look at the recent 5th Circuit Appeals Court ruling on free preventive services provided by the ACA:

Appeals Court Rules on ACA Preventive Services A Federal Appeals Court has affirmed a lower court ruling that the Affordable Care Act’s prevention mandate is unconstitutional. But the ruling does not bloc...

This , a reminder of the burden of medical debt: "About half of U.S. adults say it is difficult to afford health care costs, and one in four say they or a family member in their household had problems paying for health care in the past 12 months." via KFF:

Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs | KFF This data note reviews our recent polling data that finds that Americans struggle to afford many aspects of health care, including disproportionate shares of uninsured adults, Black and Hispanic adults and those with lower incomes.

: Social Security has announced upcoming changes to accessing online services. People will need to create a "login.gov" account. Read more: https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/ #7-2024-1

This , a look at the CFPB's Supervisory Highlights Report that found debt collectors violated the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, misleading and harassing borrowers including those recently hospitalized. Read the report:

files.consumerfinance.gov

Celebrating 30 years!

ABC for Health marks 30 years of benefits counseling, advocacy for vulnerable • Wisconsin Examiner ABC for Health turns 30. The organization has grown, expanding its mission and still counseling clients who can't pay medical bills

ABC for Health marks 30 years of benefits counseling, advocacy for vulnerable • Wisconsin Examiner ABC for Health turns 30. The organization has grown, expanding its mission and still counseling clients who can't pay medical bills

Read our Press Advisory on our upcoming 30th Anniversary Open House event! ABC's Bobby Peterson says, "We work to improve the trajectory of the lives and uplift the voices of many clients and communities in a more positive, hopeful direction. In the end, we stand by our bedrock principle that health care is a right and not a privilege."https://www.safetyweb.org/pdfs/ABC_Celebrates_30_Years.pdf

This , although the appeals court ruling on Friday was a "mixed bag," the court kept a key part of the ACA temporarily intact - the part responsible for ensuring hundreds of millions of Americans receive free access to preventive services.

The US Department of Labor has released a final rule on Association Health Plans that fully rescinds the 2018 Rule. The DOL says it wants to keep Association Health Plans to genuine employment relationships, not fake structures. We explain:

Association Health Plan Rule Finalized On April 29, 2024, the US Department of Labor released a final rule on Association Health Plans that fully rescinds the 2018 Rule. The new rule was deemed ne...

Private insurance companies may owe consumers an estimated $1.1 billion in rebates this fall. The provision that allows rebates to consumers comes from the ACA, taking into account revenue collected from premiums but not expended on care. We explain:

Insurers Could Owe $1.1 Billion in Rebates Private insurance companies may owe consumers an estimated $1.1 billion in rebates this fall. This estimate is from a new Kaiser Family Foundation Analysis. ...

The US Supreme Court sided with Native American Tribes, saying that when a tribe takes over running their own health care programs, the government will need to step in to cover overhead and administrative costs. We explain:

Supreme Court Sides with Tribes on Health Program Funding On June 6, 2024, the US Supreme Court sided with Native American Tribes over how health care programs are funded. The Court (5-4) upheld two rulings by feder...

This , a look at a US Supreme Court opinion from May 2024 that saved the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:

US Supreme Court Protects Consumer Financial Protection Bureau On May 16, 2024, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion that protected the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Court (7-2) rejected a chall...

: the CDC's popular free COVID vaccine program is ending earlier than expected. We explain:

Popular Free Vaccine Program Ending Early The CDC announced it is ending its popular, free vaccine program for the uninsured sooner than originally planned. Currently, free, updated COVID vaccines ar...

Today's Pulse Newsletter includes a reminder for ABC's 30th Anniversary Open House Event and updates in Medicaid Unwinding, Medical Debt, and new opportunities for Marketplace Coverage:

Pulse Newsletter: Anniversary Open House & Health Coverage Updates Pulse Playlist - HealthWatch Wisconsin, Inc.   Our 30th Anniversary Open House is July 1! Help Us Celebrate! On Monday, July 1, 2024, help us celebrate ABC for Health’s 30th Anniversary. Join us at th

A class action lawsuit over the state’s handling of Medicaid Unwinding in the State of Florida will proceed. At issue: the state’s handling of Medicaid unwinding for the more than 5 million Medicaid enrollees. We explain.

Class Action Lawsuit Challenges Florida's Medicaid Unwinding A class action lawsuit over the state’s handling of Medicaid Unwinding in the State of Florida will proceed. US District Judge Marcia Morales Howard agreed t...