RAND: A Public Option Must Do More Than Lower Rates To Expand Coverage

RAND: A Public Option Must Do More Than Lower Rates To Expand Coverage

Billy Wynne of the Colorado-based Public Option Institute, which receives funding from Arnold Ventures, says RAND’s conclusion that lower premiums will not expand coverage makes perfect sense considering the designs they presented.

But Wynne also emphasizes that researchers presumed providers would be willing to participate in the option.

That is a critical -- if not questionable -- assumption, he says.

He believes that for a public option to work, additional measures, including mandatory participation, will be necessary.

Colorado lawmakers and health stakeholders had been poised for a battle over public option legislation that would require hospital -- and plan -- participation, but the effort was pulled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Bill sponsors plan to try again as soon as possible.

Wynne says that because the participation requirement -- and others -- will be a huge political and technical lift, it’s imperative the option be designed in a way that benefits the broadest swath of the population as possible. That includes those who already have coverage under the existing structure.

Read the full article here.