On Wednesday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., warned Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius that he sees “a huge train wreck coming down” as 2014 nears. During a budget hearing, Senator Baucus, one of the chief proponents of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, voiced fears about the opening of [...]
Full Speed Ahead: Could a Lack of Public Education on Healthcare Reform Cause an Implementation Train Wreck?
April 19, 2013 By
Is Obamacare Good for North Carolina Workers?
April 16, 2013 By
Whether or not Obamacare is good for the country and good for North Carolina is a hotly debated topic. But for one group of North Carolinians, the uninsured workers, it is hard to imagine things can get much worse and the hope is that Obamacare will make things better. It seems everyone is talking about [...]
State Regulators Split Over Insurers’ Strategies to Delay Potential Rate Increases Caused by PPACA
April 8, 2013 By
A new set of PPACA insurance mandates, elimination of pre-existing condition exclusions for all ages and deductible and out of pocket maximums, will become effective for many plans beginning on or after January 1, 2014. New rating methodologies will become effective for the small group market as well, removing many of the risk adjustment factors currently utilized by insurers [...]
HHS Delays SHOP Exchanges Until 2015
April 2, 2013 By
Facing tight deadlines and complex IT requirements, the Obama Administration has decided to delay the operation of the Small Business Health Options Program (also known as the SHOP Exchange), at least as the SHOP was intended to operate. Congress and the regulators envisioned a marketplace where the employees of a small business with less than 50 [...]
Agencies Issue Proposed Regulations on 90 Day Waiting Period Limit for Health Benefits
March 25, 2013 By
on March 18. 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Treasury (Agencies) have issued proposed regulations on the application of the 90 day waiting period limitation in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Under PPACA, waiting periods in excess of 90 days are prohibited. The proposed regulations [...]
The Waiting Game: Public Comments on PPACA’s Employer Mandate Proposed Regulations
March 25, 2013 By
For those in the employee benefits industry, waiting on final regulations is nothing new. However, as we celebrate the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s 3rd birthday, yet another waiting game begins. The comment period for the Employer Mandate proposed regulations closed on March 18, 2013. Many employers are anxiously anticipating the release of the [...]
More Rules for MEWAs: EBSA Releases Updated Requirements Under Healthcare Reform
February 28, 2013 By
Is your organization part of a Multiple Employer Welfare Arragement (MEWA)? If so, take notice: the Employee Benefits Security Administration has released final rules under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to protect workers and employers whose health benefits are provided through a MEWA. Phyllis C. Borzi, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security states, [...]
Will the Affordable Care Act add to the Federal Deficit?
February 27, 2013 By
Apparently, the answer depends on what side of the aisle you sit on. The Government Accountability Office released a report in late January, the title of which says it all: “PPACA; Effect on Long-Term Federal Budget Outlook Largely Depends on Whether Cost Containment Sustained.” In essence, it depends. Legislators in Washington are putting their own spin on [...]
Blowing the Whistle on Healthcare Reform Violations: ACA Protections for Employees
February 26, 2013 By
With so much attention focused on the Individual and Employer Mandates, the cost of healthcare coverage, and the new insurance market reforms, one particular provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has not garnered as much attention – until recently. On February 27, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Occupational Safety and Health [...]
How Does Healthcare Reform Impact Stand-Alone HRAs?
February 26, 2013 By
As an alternative to providing a group health plan, some employers have made the choice to use a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) to provide employees with tax-free reimbursement of their individual health insurance policy premiums. Many employers are aware that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employers with 50 or more full time equivalent employees to [...]