One of the most significant problems facing patients and their access to quality healthcare is the threat of a surprise medical bill or balance billing. Between 2018 and 2020, 41 percent of insured Americans received an unexpected medical bill with two-thirds of Americans worrying they will be unable to afford an unexpected medical expense. Recognizing that […]
congress
Coalition Letter Opposes Changes to Section 230
Today, a group of scholars and policy experts signed a letter to Congress expressing opposition to proposed legislative modifications to 47 U.S. Code § 230 (Section 230) as Part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Section 230 has been called the law that created Internet as we know it. Before considering any changes, we need […]
Coalition Letter Calls for the Use of Lower-Cost Biosimilars
Today, ACI signed a coalition letter calling on the U.S. Congress to encourage the use of lower-priced biosimilar medicines, which would save lives and reduce healthcare costs. The letter was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate leadership, and it is available here online.
The Hill: America Could Super-Charge 5G Roll-Out: Here’s How
© istock If the COVID crisis has shown us anything, it is the importance of fast, reliable internet services to provide distance learning, e-commerce, teleconferencing, telehealth and other services. To that end, 5G is set to revolutionize communications technology for consumers and businesses. Read this op-ed in the Hill’s Congress Blog to understand How. https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/507911-america-could-super-charge-5g-roll-out-heres-how
Principles to a Federal Response Due to COVID-19
As Congress considers a federal response to state and local budget strains caused by the COVID-19 crisis, a coalition of over 30 organizations, including the American Consumer Institute, sent a letter to Congress spelling out the principles needed for such a federal response — namely, be direct, transparent, fair, and responsible. You can read the […]
ACI Joins Coalition in Opposition to Special Interest Corporate Subsidies
Today, ACI signed onto a coalition letter in opposition to the “Moving Forward Act.” The Act would renew investment/production tax credits and subsidize well-capitalized, politically connected corporations at the expense of struggling consumers. The full letter is available online.
Coalition Letter to Congress Supporting Telehealth Expansion
Today, a broad coalition sent a letter to Congress thanking them for waiving longstanding Medicare restrictions on telehealth services. The effort by Congress resulted in an expansion in telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and the letter calls for continued regulatory relief for the benefit of patients.
Congress Should Make Temporary CMS Policies Permanent
Today, ACI joined thirty-five other organizations in calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) to make permanent a number of regulatory changes. During the COVID-19 Crisis, CMS made necessary improvements to rules that facilitated Telehealth applications, relaxed professional licensing guidelines, stemmed non-essential physician supervision, and waived HIPPA requirements that would allow provider-patient communication […]
Coalition Letter to Congress Regarding Their Actions During this Pandemic
Today, a coalition of over twenty groups called on Congress to be responsible and principled when authorizing additional federal funding to fight the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The letter provides a guide to members and can be viewed online.
The Coronavirus Just Shows the Dangers of Congress Members Owning Stock
While the nation continues to grapple with life under the coronavirus, recent insights show that members of Congress have profited from this disaster. Indeed, already four Senators have been implicated in an insider trading scandal, selling million dollars’ worth of stocks after they were briefed about the impending Coronavirus outbreak. Yet this isn’t the only […]