This afternoon as Federal News Network reports, the House of Representatives passed an extension of the current continuing resolution funding the federal government from November 21, thought December 20, 2019. The Senate is expected to pass the bill and the President is expected to sign the bill into law before November 21 ends.

Meanwhile Govexec.com discusses GEHA’s new indemnity benefit plan options. The FEHB Act creates contract opportunities for two government wide plans — the service benefit plan which is FEP and the indemnity benefit plan which is now GEHA Elevate. The statutory term “indemnity benefit plan” had lost its unique meaning at the time Aetna stopped serving as the indemnity benefit plan carrier in 1990. One this is certain though — a carrier has the most flexibility in nationwide plan design when the plan is lauched, and GEHA has made the most of this opportunity to innovate.

Today, OPM posted its Fiscal Year 2019 financial report on its website. It’s always an interesting read for OPM wonks, like the FEHBlog. In particular, check out the Inspector General’s Top Management Challenges and the OPM’s response toward the end of the document. These sections of the document begin at page 95 of the PDF.

The FEHBlog is a fan of the EconTalk podcast. In this week’s edition, the host Russ Roberts spoke with an anesthesiologist owner of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma. This facility operates on a free market basis. The facility offers transparent, soup to nuts pricing on its website. It prefers payment in cash or cashier check and it does not accept health insurance or government program business. It will enter into contracts with self funded employers. The guest also mentioned a Free Market Medical Association to which his facility or others belong. Interesting angle.