PCIP funding cut.
Old news?
Sort of.
The big print news was PCIP stopped accepting new applications in March, 2013. But if you read the small print (which we missed at the time) the message was more ominous.
Eighteen states have decided to turn their state Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) programs over to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), HHS officials said Tuesday.
HHS officials have asked states with state-based PCIP programs to accept a fixed, lower-than-expected budget allocation for the rest of the year or else shut down the state-based programs and put the enrollees in the federal PCIP program.
Georgia opted out of establishing a state plan in favor of letting the feds run it. Kind of out of sight, out of mind.
Shame on me.
But what's the big deal? At least the folks in the 18 states aren't harmed.
Or are they?