AMA Study Shows Lack of Health Insurance Competition in U.S.

Being a physician in the District in the 21st century means being on the front line of the most pressing public health issues in the world. In our small geographic boundaries, physicians help address issue found in every state all in one area. The issues are too lengthy to list on one webpage but physicians are on the front lines of addressing health issues for all District residents.

News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues

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AMA Study Shows Lack of Health Insurance Competition in U.S.

Sep 29, 2021, 09:25 AM by MSDC Staff

DC actually has one of the most competitive state-level marketplaces, which speaks to the lack of competition at every level.

A new AMA study released yesterday shows the rise of highly concentrated markets for health insurance throughout the U.S.

The study, entitled Competition in Health Insurance: A Comprehensive Study of U.S. Markets, analyzed market concentration and health insurance market shares for 384 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) and the 50 states plus DC. The study also presented national-level market shares for the 10 largest health insurers in the U.S.

The results show a decline in insurance competition at the state, national, and local level:

73% of MSA-level markets were high concentrated according to federal guidelines
46% of MSA-level markets had one insurer with a share of 50% or more
14 states had one health insurer with a share of 50% or more of the commercial health insurance market

The District is below the national average in terms of market concentration. For DC itself, the insurer with the largest market share (Carefirst) has a 31% share of health insurance product marketplace. The second highest (UnitedHealth Group) has a 20% share. However, DC belongs to the national majority in that a Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate had the largest state-level market share in 40 states.

Read the AMA press release here.

Sample of Health Equity Legislation MSDC Tracked

Student Access to Treatment Amendment Act (B23-467)

What does it say? The bill allows for the administration of medicinal marijuana in schools as well as allows students to bring sunscreen to schools and apply it without a prescription.

MSDC position: MSDC supports the language permitting sunscreen application in schools

Current status: A win for DC physicians and public health! The legislation passed the Council in February and was signed by the Mayor. Previous temporary and emergency legislation permitted students to use sunscreen at schools this school year already.

Electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment Registry Amendment Act (B23-261)

What does it say? The bill requires DC Health to establish an electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment registry (eMOST).

MSDC position: MSDC supports this legislation to more easily allow patients to make their treatment orders known.

Current status: A win for the physician community and our patients! The Council passed the bill in December and the Mayor signed it into law on January 16, 2020.

Healthy Beverage Choices Amendment Act (B23-495)

What does it say? The bill would implement a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on the distribution of "sugary" beverages. The money collected from the tax would establish a Healthy People, Healthy Places Open Spaces Grant Program.

MSDC position: MSDC sent a letter to Council Chair Mendelson asking for a hearing to discuss all of the issues around a beverage tax.

Current status: The bill was introduced October 8, 2019 and referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Committee of the Whole.