Last month, NAIFA attended the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) Spring Meeting and received updates on issues impacting the industry.

The NCOIL keynote speaker was U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK). Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, was slated to also be a speaker but, due to scheduling conflicts, he could not attend. Also, South Carolina Senator and former NAIFA member, Tim Scott, made a brief appearance as well.

RFK announced a new CMS initiative to expand access to transformative therapies for sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in Medicare, with the goal of using this initiative as a model for other diseases. The program aims to improve care while demonstrating that innovation can be achieved without increasing costs. It also includes access to fertility preservation services for SCD patients and holds manufacturers accountable for making gene therapies affordable for Medicaid users.

The Health Insurance Committee reviewed the NCOIL Prior Authorization Reform Model, which emphasizes transparency, time limits for decisions, specific denial explanations, care continuity, and enforcement mechanisms. While no formal action was taken on the model at this time, NCOIL intends to continue discussions to help guide states in implementing effective reforms regarding prior authorization.

The Life Insurance & Financial Planning Committee held a general discussion on the use of genetic testing in life insurance underwriting—a topic NAIFA has recently started to monitor more closely due to increasing legislative activity in several states. No action was taken, but perspectives from both sides were shared.

The same committee also received a brief update on the long-term care (LTC) marketplace, setting the stage for a more comprehensive conversation at the upcoming NCOIL Summer Meeting in July. The update highlighted state-led LTC studies, proposed tax incentives, and the role of private sector products. The key takeaway was that providing meaningful incentives at the state level to promote earlier adoption of long-term care insurance could help address future challenges more effectively.

NAIFA Staff Contact: Bianca Alonso Weiss – State Government Relations Director at bweiss@naifa.org.