June 6, 2014
National Briefing for Reporters: How to Follow the Rate Review Process in Your State
Briefing Will Be Held by Teleconference at 12 p.m. EDT, Thursday, June 12
Washington, D.C.—As insurers in every state are announcing their proposed healthcare premium rates for 2015, Families USA and Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, will hold a briefing for media on the rate review process and the need for greater transparency before rates become final.
Proposed premium rates for 2015 vary greatly among states and insurers. There is strong evidence that when states have a robust rate review process with opportunity for public participation, consumers realize more affordable health insurance premiums. This briefing is intended to help reporters follow their state’s rate review process and its role in helping to control costs.
Topics to be addressed include:
- The purpose and goal of rate review,
- How the rate review process varies around the country
- The factors of strong state review authority
- Role of consumers in rate review, and
- Federal role in rate review.
The briefing will include comments by experts from a variety of states that have built strong consumer protections into their annual rate review process.
A teleconference for state and national media will be held on Thursday, June 12, to discuss the rate review process for 2015. A rate review “tool kit” will be provided upon request.
WHAT: Teleconference to Brief Reporters on Premium Rate Review
WHEN: 12 p.m. EDT, 11 a.m. CDT, 10 a.m. MDT, 9 a.m. PDT Thursday, June 12, 2014
HOW: Dial in toll-free: 888-359-3627 Confirmation code: 3923367
WHO: Lynn Quincy, Associate Director of Health Reform Policy, Consumers Union
Cheryl Fish-Parcham, Private Insurance Program Director, Families USA
Joseph Ditre, Executive Director, Maine Consumers for Affordable Care
Jesse Ellis O’Brien, Healthcare Advocate, OSPIRG OSPIRG Foundation, Oregon
Matthew Valeta, Health Policy Analyst, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative
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Consumers Union is the public policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports. Consumers Union works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace. Consumer Reports is the world’s largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website, and other publications.
Families USA is the national organization for healthcare consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan, and its mission is to secure high-quality, affordable health coverage and care for all Americans.