The AHA and Catholic Health Association of the United States (“CHA”), in a letter dated April 28, 2014, request Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Secretary, to confirm in writing that HHS “is not discouraging hospital-affiliated or other charitable foundations from subsidizing premiums purchased through the new Health Insurance Marketplaces (exchanges) or cost-sharing expenses for needy enrollees.”
The letter describes the uncertainty resulting from the Interim Final Rule promulgated on March 14, 2014, specifically the rule’s omission of premium subsidies by charitable foundations as included in certain CMS questions/answers dated February 7, 2014.
The letter concludes with the request that the Secretary “expeditiously issue a public statement confirming the department’s support for hospital-affiliated and other charitable foundations providing subsidies for the purchase of premiums and cost sharing expenses for needy individuals.”
