Health Care Policy & Legislation
Nine Things States Can Do to Push Back Against ObamacareStates will be on the front lines in the battle against ObamaCare over the next two years as they lead the fight against this hugely unpopular law
The Secret to the Virginia Health Care DecisionUnconstitutional? How can the mandate to buy health insurance be unconstitutional?
New Health Reform Benefits Going Into Effect on January 1Starting Jan. 1, a number of important new benefits will go into effect under the Affordable Care Act passed by Congress earlier this year.
States Setting Up Exchanges, Examine Massachusetts and Utah VersionsAs state officials work to find the best path to take in erecting the health exchanges required by President Obama’s law, they are looking to two states which already enacted exchanges prior to the law’s passage: Utah and Massachusetts.
Why Judge Hudson was Wrong on Severability of the Individual MandateThe ruling by a Virginia federal judge, holding the individual mandate in the Obamacare bill is unconstitutional and exceeds Congressional authority under the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution, struck a blow for freedom, as Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli correctly put it.
Health Care Reform: Consumer Pulse SurveyThe Deloitte Center for Health Solutions (DCHS), part of Deloitte LLP, conducted a survey of consumers Sept. 29 through Oct. 4, 2010, to assess their awareness and expectations about health reform, more than six months after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law.
Save Grandma, Kill ObamaCare: Over the next 10 years, if left unchanged ObamaCare will take $500 billion from Medicare. Medicare beneficiaries will see higher premiums. Doctors, nurses, hospitals, and medical suppliers will get lower payments.
PA Insurance Dept. Receives $2 Million Grant to Design Health Care Exchange, Provide EducationThe Pennsylvania Insurance Department has received $2.1 million in two federal grants to design programs giving consumers more options and tools to shop for health care coverage and make informed decisions about their health care.
A Nation of Health Reform ViolatorsBy Ronald E. Bachman FSA, MAAA, chairman CDHC Solutions editorial advisory board
Implementing Parity: The Safe Harbor for Outpatient Benefits The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) posted the following compliance assistance on its website on July 1, 2010: Until the issuance of final regulations, the Agencies have determined that they will establish an enforcement safe harbor under which the Agencies will not take enforcement action against a plan or issuer that divides its benefits furnished on an outpatient basis into two sub-classifications for purposes of applying the financial requirement and treatment limitation rules under MHPAEA: (1) office visits, and (2) all other outpatient items and services.
Implementing Parity: Investing in Behavioral HealthThere’s no way to completely dismantle the stigma associated with mental illness. But there was a way for us to change the law. And that’s what we did. And by changing the law, we began to dismantle the stigma because we made it illegal for people to discriminate.
New Data: Millions of Americans With Alcohol & Drug Addiction Could Benefit From Health Care ReformProper Implementation Critical to Making Gains
Guidance on Annual Limit Waivers ReleasedOn September 3, 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released guidance on how to apply for a waiver of the rules under the Affordable Care Act on restricted annual dollar limits, which are applicable for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010
Health Care Reform: Recent Events You Should Know AboutLittle by little we’re learning more about the complex piece of legislation called the PPACA.
Gingrich: If You Like Your Coverage, You Probably Can’t Keep ItA new video released by the Center for Health Transformation featuring CHT Founder and former Speaker Newt Gingrich analyzes the thousands of deadlines and regulations to be met as the health care law enters its implementation phase.
AlwaysCare Benefits Extends Dependent Age Limit for Vision and Dental CoverageAlwaysCare Benefits, Inc. will extend the age limits for dependents covered under its dental and vision insurance plans to age 26 starting September 1, 2010
Navigating Health Care Reform for Employers and EmployeesDescription of some of the major changes that the Health Care Reform Law will bring into effect over the next eight years.
Agencies Release Regulations on Preventive Care under the Affordable Care ActOn July 19, 2010 the federal agencies responsible for implementing the Affordable Care Act published interim final regulations interpreting the Act's requirement that certain group health plans cover a specific list of preventive services with no cost sharing
Health Care Reform: Rewriting the DOL NoticesThe good people at Benz Communications break down some of the new rules that come with health care reform including Limit Changes, Eligibility for adult Dependants and Primary Care Physician Designation
Managing Retiree Health Care CostsThe continuously increasing cost of health care benefits has long challenged many organizations. However, several issues are now converging that make the ability to manage retiree health care costs both critically important and particularly daunting.
Flexibility Key to Administer Benefits With New Legislation With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, we are beginning to visualize the future of health care. Although the fallout from any change is yet to be realized, the new health care legislation will surely add more complexities to an already regulation-choked industry.
Most large employers changing health benefit for 2011Due to certain provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, large U.S. employers plan on making some significant changes to their health care benefits programs for 2011.
Compliance Alert from the Segal CompanyIRS Guidance Clarifies that Plan Sponsors that Have Filed a 2009 Form 5500 May Elect Pension Funding Relief for 2009 — Additional Guidance on Pension Funding Relief Expected
Status Quo in Health Care Is Not an Option: PwC ReportHealth organizations face more than 60 major regulatory deadlines over the next 10 years to meet the timetable and goals of health reform
NCPA Proposes Criteria for Grandfathered Health Plans, Pharmacy BenefitsThe National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) submitted comments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA), and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) supporting patient choice and greater utilization of generic prescription drugs, as those three agencies develop criteria for maintaining Grandfathered Health Plan (GHP) status under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
Move Over Mom, Here Comes ObamaCareBy Ron Bachman, FSA, MAAA, president & CEO of Healthcare Visions
Health Care Reform: Guidance on Claims and Appeals RulesRecently issued interim final rules clarify the scope of the internal claims and appeals procedures and external review processes and provide details on the external review requirements under the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
By Amy M. Gordon, Michael T. Graham, Jamie A. Weyeneth, Joanna C. Kerpen, and Natalie M. Nathanson, McDermott Will & Emery, LLP
Many Americans Still Confused About New Healthcare Reform Law and Its Provisions Lack of understanding linked to rhetoric that preceded the final vote in March, and the complicated nature of existing health care system
Health Care Reform: Elimination of Retiree Drug Subsidy DeductionBy Bill Boies, Amy M. Gordon, Susan M. Nash, and Maggie McTigue, McDermott Will & Emery, LLP
NCPA Urges U.S. Office of Personnel Management to Adopt Transparent PoliciesNCPA Urges U.S. Office of Personnel Management to Adopt Transparent Policies for Pharmacy Benefit Managers in Federal Employee Health Plan, Health Insurance Exchanges
Health Care Reform: Elimination of Retiree Drug Subsidy DeductionBy Bill Boies, Amy M. Gordon, Susan M. Nash, and Maggie McTigue, McDermott Will & Emery, LLP
DOL Posts FAQ on Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act RegulationsEnactment of New FSA Restriction Will Pose Problems for Consumers, Retailers and Benefit ProvidersLatest Agency Regulations Address the Affordable Care Act’s Rules for Group Health PlansHealth Care Reform Law: Guidance Issued on Coverage of Preventive ServicesRegulations on “Grandfathering” Under the Affordable Care ActSome of the requirements of the Affordable Care Act1—the new health reform law—do not apply to employment-based health plans that were in existence on March 23, 2010
Health Care Reform: Grandfathered Health Plan RegulationsBy Susan M. Nash, Amy M. Gordon, Jamie A. Weyeneth and Elizabeth A. Savard, McDermott Will & Emery, LLP
Health Care Reform Law: Grandfathered Plan Guidance IssuedA breakdown by the good folks at Aon on how garandfathered plans will be affected under the new health care law
Benefits Enrollment Stays in Sync with Changing Times Ja’Nene R. Kane Vice President, Sales and Operations Benefitsconnect
Stay on Course Through Waters of Health Care ReformRon Bachman and Kevin McKechnie bring their unique perspectives to what ramifications the new health care law will have.
Constant Change and New OpportunitiesTSYS has a plan on how to best deal with the changes coming to health care.
Health Care Reform Law Changing Delivery SystemsBy John Hickman Partner, Alston & Bird LLP
Find Answers on Health Care ReformsBy Scott Leavitt, President Scott Leavitt Insurance & Financial Services
Supreme Court Affirms Plan Administrators’ Interpretations of a Plan Document Must Receive DeferenceBy Wilber H. Boies PC, Michael T. Graham, Nancy G. Ross & James G. Isaac, McDermott Will & Emery LLP
IRS Announces New Minimums and Maximums for Certain CDHPs2011 Minimums and Maximums for Health Savings Accounts and High-Deductible Health Plans Unchanged from 2010
Health Care Reform: Grandfathered Health Plan RegulationsBy Susan M. Nash, Amy M. Gordon, Jamie A. Weyeneth and Elizabeth A. Savard, McDermott Will & Emery, LLP
Health Care, Human Capital, & The Need for Health Reform Annulment Ron Bachman describes the concept of human capital and how it should be the engine that lowers health care costs in the US
Hallmark Cards, Inc. Unveils New Business Unit Hallmark Cards, Inc. Unveils New Business Unit Called Hallmark Business Connections New company consolidates Hallmark’s B2B offerings to help businesses strengthen relationships with employees and customers.
Health Care Reform: Early Retiree Reinsurance Program ApplicationThe Office of Management and Budget recently outlined the requirements for participating in the federal Early Retiree Reinsurance Program
HHS Cracks the Door on the Retiree Reinsurance Money GrabThe Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued the first in what promises to be a decades-long series of regulations and other guidance on the new health reform law. The new guidance concerns the temporary $5 billion retiree healthcare reinsurance fund authorized by the health reform legislation.
ObamaCare: From “No Way” to “Now What?”For flexible strategic planning, there are four major phases to consider: Legislation, regulation, compliance, and litigation.
It’s Time to Listen to Health Care ConsumersReleased April 14, 2010, a Mercer study for the American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO) showed that insurance with health care consumerism now covers an estimated 23 million lives. Health care consumerism includes insurance plans with personal care accounts attached to the insurance coverage.
Look Beyond ObamaCare for Real Trend ObamaCare is fighting health care consumerism and broad cultural movements to personal responsibility, individual ownership, self-reliance, convenience, choice, and transparency. The health mandates violate the growth of personal responsibility and self-reliance.
CCH Offers Complete Text, Explanation, Analysis of New Health Care Reform LawNow, there’s a single, comprehensive resource from CCH that explains and makes accessible the sweeping changes brought about by recently enacted health care reform legislation: CCH's Law, Explanation and Analysis of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Including Reconciliation Act Impact.
VitalSpring Launches Code Blue Initiative to Help Employers Respond to New Health LawLatest DSS Research Survey Reveals That Consumers Are Torn Between Access and CoverageIn the most recent survey, Americans were given a choice between making their first priority providing some level of health insurance coverage for all citizens or slowing down the rapidly rising costs of health care.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Fails to Fix What’s BrokenA First Look at the Impact of Health Care Reform on EmployersThis bulletin focuses on the Act’s effects on employer-sponsored health coverage and new employer responsibilities.
Corporate America weighs in on health law costsA pair of top U.S. industrial companies gave some of the first estimates of what the nation's health care overhaul will cost them...
Health Reform – the Ultimate FixA majority of Americans believe that a health reform fix is needed. For those in power the following is the perspective of a concerned physician and an actuary, two professionals who work in the dysfunctional system. Please read, it’s important for a few noble Congressmen and women to listen to these insights. Consider what kind of fix you may be voting for.
Health Reform Insights & Talking Points Personal observations from SPBA President Fred Hunt
Companies Face Worker, Health Care Challenges as Millennium Closes Overall Outlook for 2010
Reform Prospects, Recession Remain on the Minds of ManySurvey Respondents See No Clear Winners This Year
Any Reforms Must Strengthen Both Health Care and EconomyInitial Focus Should Address Cost
NCPA Responds to New White House Health Reform ProposalHealth Reform Requires Unified, Concrete Game Plan It is now time to lay out basic principles, desired outcomes, and general legislative proposals to deal with real health reform.
Insurer Steps Up Fight to Control Health Care CostUnitedHealthcare takes an aggressive approach to cut health costs ahead of the wave of reform.
Goodbye Executive Medical Reimbursement Plans?Wolters Kluwer Health Reform Talk blog: January 15, 2010
Understanding Key Provisions in Federal Health Care ReformTo help employers prepare for the changes, Business Insurance provides answers to frequently asked questions about what to expect from health care reform.
Employer Health Mandate May Be DroppedAP Sources: Health Bill May Drop 'Millionaires Tax,' Requirement for Large Employer Coverage
Health Reform Impact on Consumer-Driven Health Care Likely to be ModestAnalysis of: Reform Bill Could End Popular HSAs, Flex Spending
Coalition Urges Congressional Leaders to Strengthen PBM Transparency Provision in Final Health BillPowerful, Diverse Coalition Urges Congressional Leaders to Strengthen PBM Transparency Provision in Final Health Care Reform Bill
Excise Tax on 'Cadillac' Health Care Plans is a Bad IdeaMore than 80% of the taxes for health care would come from individuals paying higher income, Social Security and Medicare taxes -- not from employers and insurers.
Large Companies Relying on Brokers for Updates on ReformExactly 57% of these employers say their brokers or consultants are the key resource on health care reform legislation..
CCH Special Report Details Employer, Medicare Provisions of Senate Health Care Reform BillCCH has issued a Special Report on the Senate version of health care reform legislation, detailing the provisions of the bill which passed by a vote of 60-39 on December 24, 2009.
You Need to Know GINAThe employment section of GINA that incorporates procedures and remedies found in the federal civil rights law took effect Jan. 1, 2010.
CCH Special Report Details Provisions of Senate Health Care Reform BillCCH Special Report Details Employer, Medicare Provisions of Senate Health Care Reform Bill
Businesses to Push for Modifications to Senate BillBig employers stress over taxes and fees proposed in both Senate and House health reform legislation.
Americans Would Feel Varying Effects from Health BillHere are some of the largest groups to be affected by health reform...
MetLife Study: Employers Follow Health Reform, Consumers' Attention SplitMetlife Study Reveals Employers of All Sizes Closely Following Health Care Reform While Consumers' Attention is Split Along Generational Lines
U.S. Health Bill Passes Crucial Senate TestIn a middle-of-the-night vote, Democrats unanimously backed the first in a series of three procedural motions to cut off debate and move the bill to a final vote by at least Christmas Eve.
Squeezing Costs out of Health Care...Squeezing Costs out of Health Care Tops PricewaterhouseCoopers' List of 2010 Health Industry Issues
Senate's Solution: Consumer Choice Is Dead on ArrivalAccording to the health care reform bill, there's an easy way to solve the problem of the uninsured in this country: buy it, sell it or else...
CDHPs Deliver Real World Health Care ReformCIGNA Study: CDHPs Could Bend the Cost Curve 26% over Four Years and Improve Health Care Quality
Undone by OverreachLeader Harry Reid is having a difficult time piecing together a health-reform bill tbecause of his overreach in trying to create a health-care “system” that would be run out of Washington.
The Week in Health Care Reform: 12/14Following Towers Perrin Health Care Reform Blog
Save Flexible Spending Plans Applauds Amendment to Protect Flexible Spending AccountsSave Flexible Spending Plans, a national grassroots organization dedicated to protecting flexible spending accounts (FSAs), praised Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) for filing an amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that would help protect the future use and value of FSAs.
Senate Restrictions on Flexible Spending Accounts Spur New CampaignSenate Restrictions on Flexible Spending Accounts Spur New Campaign
Industry Pushing Back On Senate Health Bill Retaining the employer-based, private health insurance system remains the priority for health insurance agents as the Senate continues what is expected to be a lengthy debate over health care reform legislation.
The End of HSAsHarry Reid wants to kill consumer-driven health care.
Take Advantage of Tax Savings for Health NowBe Sure to Get the Most from Your Health Tax Savings Before Reform Changes Come
CDHC: A Reform That’s Already Taken HoldThis reform reduces cost as a means to expand coverage, instead of believing the opposite approach will somehow work.
The Week in Health Care ReformFollowing Towers Perrin Health Care Reform Blog
Stat! Health Reform Weeklyfollowing Sibson Consulting's Health Care Reform blog
Health Reform Talk: What Are Immediate Reforms?Following Wolters Kluwer Health Care Reform Talk blog
Employers with CDHPs Prefer HSAsMajority of Employers with Consumer-Driven Health Plans Prefer Health Savings Accounts, Says Aon Consulting
Employer, Medicare Provisions of House Health Care Reform Detailed in New CCH BriefingThe Affordable Health Care for America Act made its way through the House of Representatives with significant changes to the way employers provide health benefits to their employees and major changes for Medicare and Medicaid intact, according to CCH, a part of Wolters Kluwer Law & Business and a leading provider of information and solutions for health care, legal and human resources professionals (hr.cch.com).
Big “I” Disappointed with House Democratic Health Care BillBill includes ‘public option’ and adds billions of dollars in tax burdens to small business.
The Essential Benefits Package--An Employer ModelFollowing Wolters Kluwer Health Care Reform Talk blog