Subject: Re: Follow-up to Question re UnitedHealthcare and Implications
From: "Ann O'Leary" <[email-masked]>
To: Michael Shapiro <[email-masked]>
Cc: Chris Jennings <[email-masked]>, Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>, John Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:39:08 -0800

Perfect.  Green light from me.  Chris/Jake - Please take final glance and
then Shapiro can get into the book.

Thanks,
Ann

On Tue, Nov 24, 2015 at 10:15 AM, Michael Shapiro <
[email-masked]> wrote:

> Hey all -
>
> Here's a revised draft, folding in Chris' latest bullet. Folks should look
> again before we plan on sending,
>
> Best,
> Mike S.
>
> On Tue, Nov 24, 2015 at 1:04 PM, Michael Shapiro <
> [email-masked]> wrote:
>
>> Yep - will send shortly
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 24, 2015 at 12:18 PM, Ann O'Leary <[email-masked]
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks! Shapiro - Please send final around once you clean it up. Thanks!
>>>
>>>
>>> Ann O’Leary
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> (510) 717-5518 (cell)
>>>
>>> On Nov 24, 2015, at 9:05 AM, Chris Jennings <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>
>>> If you guys decide to put another bullet on this, you may want to
>>> broaden to say something like (excuse the BB):
>>>
>>> GROWING  CONCERN THAT POLITICAL RESPONSE TO PROBLEMS MAY BE TO
>>> MICROMANAGE HEALTH PLAN TOOLS TO CONSTRAIN PREMIUMS: Insurers are worried
>>> that current and future federal and state policy will limit their ability
>>> to utilize cost sharing incentives and formularies to limit excessive use
>>> of high cost medical interventions/prescriptions that may be inappropriate
>>> or unnecessary relative to alternative less costly treatments.  They fear
>>> that popular but expensive mandates to handcuff them will increase premiums
>>> and drive away healthier enrollees that help keep costs/premiums down.
>>> How's that?
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network.
>>> *From: *Jake Sullivan
>>> *Sent: *Tuesday, November 24, 2015 11:18 AM
>>> *To: *John Podesta
>>> *Cc: *Chris Jennings; Ann O'Leary; Michael Shapiro
>>> *Subject: *Re: Follow-up to Question re UnitedHealthcare and
>>> Implications
>>>
>>> A good point and - if I recall right - a question she got in the debate.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Nov 24, 2015, at 10:55 AM, John Podesta <[email-masked]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Largely in agreement here, and don't want to get too wonky, but should
>>> we note that capping drug costs, while a needed improvement, puts pressure
>>> on the insurers which could exacerbate these trends unless accompanied
>>> by simultaneous commitment to put pressure on drug companies to keep prices
>>> in check.
>>>
>>> On Tuesday, November 24, 2015, Chris Jennings <[email-masked]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks Ann for reviewing and editing.  I totally agree with you on the
>>>> need to hold back any of the preliminary new policy ideas.  I threw the
>>>> list in mostly in case you guys required a placeholder set of ideas to
>>>> illustrate that work is underway.  Having said, much better to defer until
>>>> package that builds on what she has already done/is doing is complete and
>>>> signed off through our process.  Other than one other thing, I like the
>>>> rest of the edits.  The one thing:  I think when the legitimate problems
>>>> underscoring the current law are deferred to end, the memo seems to flow
>>>> less logically.  Moreover, I would like to acknowledge the bad news up
>>>> front so she isn’t thinking we are burying the problems.  Principals
>>>> sometimes don’t trust the messenger who appears to be pooh poohing the
>>>> challenge.  If ok with you guys, I would like to get that stuff out of the
>>>> way and restore that ordering.  As I reviewed memo, I found places to
>>>> tighten and shorten. Again, I think it helps with the flow and the
>>>> digesting of the info. Other than that, good to go.  Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> Chris
>>>>
>>>> Chris Jennings
>>>> President
>>>> Jennings Policy Strategies, Inc.
>>>> Suite 500
>>>> 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
>>>> Washington, D.C.  20004
>>>>
>>>> (202) 879 9344 work
>>>> (202) 879-9340 fax
>>>>
>>>> From: Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>
>>>> Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 4:40 AM
>>>> To: Ann O'Leary <[email-masked]>
>>>> Cc: Chris Jennings <[email-masked]>, John Podesta <
>>>> [email-masked]>, Mike Shapiro <[email-masked]>
>>>> Subject: Re: Follow-up to Question re UnitedHealthcare and Implications
>>>>
>>>> Thanks Ann - Chris, let us know you're thoughts and then we'll get it
>>>> in to her today.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Nov 24, 2015, at 12:21 AM, Ann O'Leary <[email-masked]>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Chris - Thanks so much for talking tonight and spearheading the effort
>>>> to develop a broader set of policies aimed at strengthening the ACA, as
>>>> well as policies that will drive down costs, foster innovation and reform
>>>> our delivery of health care.
>>>>
>>>> I do think the memo that you wrote on the United Healthcare situation
>>>> is very good and should go to HRC.  I have edited and reordered it to: (1)
>>>> have her focus on the arguments about why not to panic too much about
>>>> United Health Care at the beginning of the memo; and (2) left the
>>>> background on why ACA needs to be strengthened to the end; and (3) I
>>>> deleted your list of improvements at the end as I'd prefer for us to work
>>>> on giving her a package together rather than a few ideas now.
>>>>
>>>> If this works for you and Jake, Shapiro can clean it up and get it into
>>>> HRC's briefing book.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again,
>>>> Ann
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Nov 23, 2015 at 6:52 AM, Jake Sullivan <
>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Thanks Chris.  As we discussed Friday, we need to drive forward on
>>>>> multiple tracks simultaneously, including improving the ACA, enhancing
>>>>> value in the health care system, and fostering new innovations.  We
>>>>> will work with you to develop a work plan.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> > On Nov 23, 2015, at 9:13 AM, Chris Jennings <[email-masked]>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>> >
>>>>> > John:  Following up on your call last night, I tried to quickly pull
>>>>> together the attached semi-comprehensive, but hopefully easy to read
>>>>> backgrounder on the UnitedHealthcare situation and the broader
>>>>> dynamics/implications/questions that are raised around it.  I present the
>>>>> conflicting issues around plan positioning, enrollment and risk selection.
>>>>> I think you will find it to be consistent with our conversation.  You will
>>>>> note that besides raising the issues, I make a recommendation about HRC
>>>>> being a bit more aggressive about the need to strengthen the ACA over
>>>>> time.  I also raise a few very preliminary new policy outlines that may
>>>>> spur further conversations with Ann, Jake and the rest of the team. Hope
>>>>> helpful for you all.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Chris
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Chris Jennings
>>>>> > President
>>>>> > Jennings Policy Strategies, Inc.
>>>>> > Suite 500
>>>>> > 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
>>>>> > Washington, D.C.  20004
>>>>> >
>>>>> > (202) 879 9344 work
>>>>> > (202) 879-9340 fax
>>>>> > <HRC Campaign Memo re United-ACA status.11.23.15.docx>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Ann O'Leary
>>>> Senior Policy Advisor
>>>> Hillary for America
>>>> Cell: 510-717-5518
>>>>
>>>> <HRC Campaign Memo re United-ACA status.11.23.15 - AOL.docx>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Michael Shapiro
>> Hillary for America
>> Policy
>> 860-306-5849
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Michael Shapiro
> Hillary for America
> Policy
> 860-306-5849
>

-- 
Ann O'Leary
Senior Policy Advisor
Hillary for America
Cell: 510-717-5518