Risk Corridors – Updated

The risk corridor program created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has proven to be one of the most controversial aspects of the health care law. Questions have been raised about the source of payments, whether the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has the authority to make payments under the program, and whether the program is required to be budget neutral. This brief has been updated to examine the impact of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 on the risk corridor program and whether insurers will receive their full 2014 risk corridor payments.