Congress

Posted October 18th, 2023 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

The House Ways and Means Committee recently cleared legislation which would make substantial enhancements and improvements to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). There are two bills which have now been cleared for a vote in the House of Representatives (House). If passed in the House, the bills would then need to be approved by the Senate before going to the president for signature.
 

Posted January 18th, 2023 in

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Congress enacted a law called the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). One of the provisions of the FFCRA included a requirement that state Medicaid programs keep individuals continuously enrolled in coverage through the end of the month in which the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends. In return, state Medicaid programs have received enhanced federal funding.

Posted August 29th, 2022 in Employers, Producers
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed into law last week included some healthcare provisions that primarily impact Medicare and plans sold on a Health Insurance Marketplace; however, some of the provisions included in the law may indirectly impact employers and group health plans.
 
Posted August 19th, 2022 in Employers, Producers
On August 16, 2022, President Joseph Biden signed a bill into law called the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). While its name may not imply it, there were some provisions in the bill that impact healthcare and/or health insurance. Here is a summary of some of those provisions:
 
Extension of Enhanced Marketplace Subsidies
 
Posted February 13th, 2019 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

The term “Medicare for All” has been making headlines recently. Democrats across the country have made this concept a central part of their platforms, and polls have shown that more than half of Americans are in favor of it.

But what does it really mean? Well, the best answer is that it means different things to different people.

Posted April 3rd, 2018 in Producers, Employers, Individuals

Last month, U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R -PA) introduced the Bipartisan HSA Improvement Act. The proposed legislation would improve and enhance Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and unlike most other HSA initiatives, this bill has bipartisan support.

HSAs have been an agenda item for the Republican party since their inception in 2004, but they are now gaining support amongst Democrats too. The Bipartisan HSA Improvement Act is co-authored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and is being co-sponsored by a mixture of Republicans and Democrats including Erik Paulsen (R-MN), Ron Kind (D-WI), Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).

Posted March 29th, 2018 in Employers, Producers, Individuals
Last week, President Donald Trump signed into law a 2,232-page federal spending bill avoiding another government shutdown. In the days leading up to the bill’ s passage, it appeared that Congressional leaders were on the verge of including funds which aimed to stabilize the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 
 
Posted September 21st, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
The so-called Individual Mandate has been considered a widely unpopular provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which most Republicans want to repeal and even several Democrats want to change. As members of Congress talk about the various ways the ACA could be modified or improved, options to change the Individual Mandate are being explored.  
 
Posted April 5th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
You’ve all heard by now that Congress was unsuccessful in passing the American Health Care Act (AHCA), a bill that was intended to repeal and replace significant parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Surely, within time, there will be another bill introduced to change the ACA, but that could take time. It may be weeks, months, or maybe even not until next year, although President Donald Trump does have a “wild card” he can use.
Posted January 13th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Nothing has changed yet. Nothing will change until after Donald Trump is sworn in as President on January 20th.

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