The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that ending cost-sharing reductions would increase medical insurance premiums for silver plans in the marketplaces by 20%. The Affordable Care Act requires insurers … Read More
It is Too Early to Declare TrumpCare Dead
Some people are calling efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) dead after a shocking turn of events in which three Republican Senators voted against a bill … Read More
Departments Issue Mental Health Parity Guidance and Draft Form
The 21st Century Cures Act required the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury to solicit feedback from the public on how the disclosure request … Read More
Senate Leadership Unveils Revised Health Bill
Senate Republicans have released a revised version of their healthcare bill. Overall, it is similar to the earlier version of their repeal-and-replace bill. Full content is available to DMEC members … Read More
Uncertainty Continues to Plague Individual Health Insurance Market
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a map of 2018 projected Health Insurance Exchanges participation based on the known issuer participation public announcements through June 9, … Read More
Republican Senators Release Healthcare Proposal
Senate Republicans have released their version of a health care reform repeal and replace bill, which they call the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). Five Republican Senators have already stated … Read More
Will California Really Enact a Single-Payer Plan?
The California State Senate has passed S.B. 562, the Healthy California Act, which would create a single-payer plan in California. While it has passed its first major milestone in the … Read More
Supreme Court Expands Definition of Church Plans
The United States Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that employee benefit plans established by church-affiliated organizations are church plans exempt from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). ERISA generally … Read More
Conflicting Reports on ACA Repeal Bill
There are conflicting reports coming out of Washington, D.C. regarding whether the parliamentarian of the United States Senate has said that the American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by the … Read More
Wisconsin Employer Resolves EEOC Case Involving Wellness
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that it has resolved its suit against Orion Energy Systems, a Manitowoc, Wis., lighting company, challenging a wellness program under the … Read More
CBO Releases Cost Estimate for the AHCA
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have completed an estimate of the direct spending and revenue effects of H.R. 1628, the … Read More
Cost-of-Living Adjustments Announced for HSAs and Affordability
In Revenue Procedure 2017-37, the Internal Revenue Service announced the inflation adjusted amounts for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). For calendar year 2018, the annual limitation on contributions to an HSA … Read More
HHS Final Rules Hope to Provide Stability to the Marketplaces
Final regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are intended to provide stability to the individual health insurance marketplaces around the country. The regulations make a … Read More
Trumpcare Advances to Senate
The House of Representatives narrowly passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which had been given up for dead in March and now faces an uphill battle in the Senate. … Read More
Trump Administration Extends Grandmothered Policies
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced an extension for individuals and small businesses who have certain, non-Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant policies. The extension applies to non-ACA … Read More
The TrumpCare Zombie and What Might Happen
Some people are calling the efforts to revive repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the TrumpCare Zombie. After withdrawing the American Health Care Act (AHCA) on March 24, President … Read More
Republicans Cancel Vote to Repeal Parts of ACA
This afternoon the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives cancelled a vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which would have repealed significant portions of the Affordable Care … Read More
IRS Will Accept “Silent” Tax Returns
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that it will accept so-called “silent” tax returns, that is, returns that do not answer the question about health coverage. This decision does … Read More
Federal Court Blocks Rules with Transgender Protections
A federal court has issued a nationwide injunction against enforcement of health care reform regulations on gender identity and termination of pregnancy. These regulations, which were scheduled to go into … Read More
President Trump Issues Executive Order on Healthcare Reform
President Trump was not able to keep his campaign promise to repeal health care reform on “Day One” of his administration; however, he did issue the following Executive Order: MINIMIZING … Read More