CMS has denied a section 1332 waiver application submitted by the state of Massachusetts, according to The Boston Globe.
The waiver sought to defer acceptance of federal cost-sharing subsidies and instead establish a statewide premium stabilization fund that would reimburse insurers in an effort to lower premiums.
In a letter to Louis Gutierrez, director of the Massachusetts ACA marketplace, CMS Deputy Administrator Randy Pate wrote the waiver application was submitted too late to be considered for implementation.
"Given that the waiver was submitted less than two months prior to the beginning of the 2018 open enrollment period and, if the application were deemed complete, the Federal public comment period would not end until after the beginning of open enrollment, the Departments have determined that there is not sufficient time to implement the proposed waiver," Mr. Pate wrote.
Iowa officials withdrew their section 1332 application earlier this week, calling the ACA an "unworkable" law.