The American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States have asked HHS to clarify that the agency doesn't discourage hospital-affiliated and other charitable foundations from subsidizing health insurance premiums for exchange plans.
In a letter to HHS, the AHA and CHA wrote an interim final rule on third-party subsidies released by CMS and HHS last month created uncertainty surrounding the issue. "While the rule formalized HHS' support for subsidies from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program and certain others, it made no mention of charitable foundations," the AHA and CHA wrote. "Although HHS staff has told us that the rule did not represent a change in HHS' position, our members and their legal advisors need an authoritative statement on which they can rely."
The uncertainty is limiting AHA and CHA's ability to help Americans obtain health insurance coverage through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act exchanges, according to the letter. Both organizations have requested a public statement from HHS confirming the agency's support for hospital-affiliated and other charitable foundations providing subsidies.
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