healthcare reform

Posted January 18th, 2018 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Originally posted on October 13, 2017
 
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 12th instructing the Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Treasury (DOT), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), known as the tri-agencies, to review and potentially revise existing regulatory guidance. This includes:
 
    Posted January 11th, 2018 in Producer, Employers, Individuals
    In response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in October of last year, the Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed new rules that aim to expand the availability of association health plans (AHPs) in the small group market.
    Posted January 4th, 2018 in Producers, Employers

    The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2018-06 which provides some relief for those entities who are subject to reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

    In summary:

    Forms 1095-B and/or 1095-C now must be furnished to employees and individuals by March 2, 2018, for the 2017 calendar year. This is a 30-day extension from the original deadline of January 31, 2018. No additional extensions will be granted by the IRS, even if requested by an employer.

    Posted December 12th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
    We haven’t even gotten through the 2018 open enrollment season yet, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has already proposed rules that would impact health insurance markets for 2019. Each year, CMS issues a Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters which explains various rules, inflation adjustments and other changes that will occur with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
    Posted December 1st, 2017 in Producers, Employers
    Bipartisan efforts (yes, you read that right) are underway to repeal the Cadillac Tax imposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A letter signed by 140 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives (House) urges a repeal this year. Efforts are being led by Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT-2) and Mike Kelly (R-PA-3). 
     
    Posted November 22nd, 2017 in Producers, Employers

    The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has updated its Questions and Answers website in regards to the Employer Mandate, and it appears they have started to send initial notices to employers who are subject to a penalty for the 2015 year (generally, this will be employers with 100 or more employees since transition relief was available in 2015 to employers with 50-99 employees).

    Posted November 7th, 2017 in Producers, Employers

    The original version of this article was published on January 15, 2016. It has been updated annualy to account for inflationary changes. 

     
    Posted November 1st, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
    As you may have heard, the Trump administration discontinued funding for the cost-sharing reduction subsidies (CSR subsidies). Critics of this move believe it will create instability in the Exchange and individual marketplaces. Political efforts to restore the CSR subsidies are underway, but it appears Republican leadership has some demands as part of those restoration efforts.
    Posted October 10th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
    The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most health insurance plans to cover in-network preventive care at 100%, including coverage for prescribed contraceptives available to women. This has sparked some controversy with organizations who have a religious objection to the use of contraceptives. The Obama administration addressed this controversy by doing the following:
     
    1. Exempted group health plans offered by churches and houses of worship from providing coverage for contraceptives if there was a religious objection.
       
    Posted September 26th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals

    Spoiler Alert: The answer is no.

    Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have been spearheading efforts to repeal and replace substantial parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While there are many changes that the so-called “Graham-Cassidy” bill would make to the ACA, there are really three main themes that stand out:
     

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