The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released proposed rules designed to create a single, streamlined application process for several government health insurance programs. The application process is being developed in preparation for the Health Exchange Programs that begin on January 1, 2014, under the Affordable Care Act. The proposed rules summarize changes … Continue Reading »
In regulations and other pronouncements issued toward the end of 2012, the government has provided further details on new taxes and fees introduced by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Health plan sponsors will be particularly interested in the amounts that they will be assessed to fund various ACA programs. This guidance includes: Regulations, a fact … Continue Reading »
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued two sets of proposed regulations issued under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that will affect the design, availability, and cost of health insurance plans, primarily in the individual and small group markets. Most significantly, HHS has published proposed regulations defining the “essential health benefits” … Continue Reading »
In a series of three notices, the IRS has signaled the approach that it may take on certain key issues arising under the employer shared responsibility, or “pay or play,” provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is seeking comment on these and other questions. All of the matters discussed in the notices will … Continue Reading »
Although the pace of new legislation affecting health and other welfare benefits has slowed after the first two years of the Obama Administration, plan sponsors will find no shortage of developments to monitor and implement in 2012. This alert provides a very brief review of recent developments and matters to watch in the new calendar … Continue Reading »
Following up on guidance issued last month, the Department of Health and Human Services has proposed two new sets of regulations and the Department of the Treasury has proposed one on the state-based health insurance marketplaces known as Affordable Insurance Exchanges. (To view our alert on the earlier guidance, click here.) The Patient Protection and … Continue Reading »
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has proposed two sets of regulations under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the 2010 health care reform legislation) relating to changes that will take effect in 2014. Although the new rules focus principally on what states must do to meet health care reform requirements, health … Continue Reading »
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