June 7, 2021
Tennessee and Connecticut become latest States to limit use of Accumulator Adjustment Programs
Building on momentum to reform the use of accumulator adjustment programs during this year’s Congressional sessions in the states, bills are being finalized as many states wrap up their legislative work for the year. Recently, Tennessee and Connecticut became the 9th and 10th states respectively to limit the use of accumulator adjustment programs.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed SB 1397, sponsored by Senator Swann, into law on May 18th. Similar legislation, HB 619 sponsored by Representative Rudder, was also filed, but SB 1397 was the bill that ultimately advanced to the Governor’s desk. The legislation requires insurers to include any amount paid towards an enrollee’s deductible or other cost-sharing obligations, regardless of whether the amount if paid by the enrollee or another person. The legislation made its way through the legislature unscathed and without amendment.
SB 1003, which contains similar policy to SB 1397, was also unscathed and signed into law by Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont on June 2nd.
The legislation in both these states would not have been possible without the strong support of the rheumatology community and the rheumatologists in Tennessee and Connecticut who worked to support these pieces of legislation.
Legislation limiting the use of accumulator adjustment programs has proven both popular and bi-partisan in the states. Only a few years after the programs emerged, 10 states have already moved to tackle the issue. CSRO commends these states and looks forward to future activity later this year and into future sessions.
Questions?
Email us at info@csro.info.
