The live Health Care Reform Virtual Conference was held on August 16, you can still access all of the practical ACA implementation guidance to keep you ahead of compliance obligations now through 2014 and beyond. The virtual environment and all of the recorded presentations, articles, whitepapers, captured discussions and other resources are available for you to access at any time through November 20. Just click the "Register Online" button. Below is the agenda including a list of sessions we recorded for you to watch anytime.
Session One: The Affordable Care Act – Where We Stand Today
Having survived a Supreme Court challenge, the Affordable Care Act is now center stage. Today’s sessions will provide you with a detailed review of all ACA requirements for group health plans and their sponsors. We’ll start by revisiting the ACA requirements in effect today, then we’ll focus on the ACA requirements becoming effective over the next two years (2012-2014), and we’ll finish with a discussion of the ACA’s broad structural and market changes taking effect in 2014.
In the first session of our Health Care Reform Virtual Conference we’ll focus on the legal and practical issues associated with the existing ACA requirements, including the following topics:
- Overview and post-Supreme Court litigation report
- Grandfather plan status – Will you keep it or let it go?
- Existing ACA requirements for grandfathered and non-grandfathered plans (including preventive care, internal appeals/external review)
- Maintenance tasks (ERRP, annual limits, etc.)
- Penalty mitigation – How to optimize your compliance strategy
Session Two: Key Implementation Issues for 2012-2014
The Affordable Care Act will continue to impose sweeping new requirements on group health plans and employers between now and 2014. Because of these changes, plan sponsors will need to significantly revise their plan documents and administrative practices.
The second session of our Health Care Reform Virtual Conference will address the legal requirements – and practical issues – that plans and employers will have to address between now and 2014, including the following topics:
- How to handle medical loss ratio (MLR) rebates
- Preparing and distributing the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)
- W-2 reporting as to the value of health care coverage
- New tax and reporting requirements, and new fees imposed on plans
- 90-day limits on waiting periods and other market reforms taking effect in 2014
Session Three: Structural Changes in 2014 and Beyond
The Affordable Care Act will usher in major structural changes to our health care system starting in 2014. These include state-based health insurance exchanges, federal subsidies to help certain individuals buy exchange coverage, and a tax penalty imposed on most people who do not have health coverage.
For employers, the most significant reforms include the “free-rider” penalty, which encourages large employers to provide health coverage to their full-time employees, and the 40% excise tax on the cost of health coverage exceeding certain thresholds. The third session of our Health Care Reform Virtual Conference will address these changes and their implications for health plans and plan sponsors, including the following topics:
- An overview of health insurance exchanges and the Medicaid expansion
- The financial incentives that encourage individuals to have – and employers to provide – health coverage
- How the law's premium assistance tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies work
- How employers can reduce or avoid the free-rider penalty
- New employer reporting requirements for health plan coverage
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Joanne L. Hustead
VP, Senior Health Compliance Specialist
National Compliance Practice
The Segal Company
Washington, D.C. |
Session Four: Health Care Reform Decision: The Impact on Health Care Plans
On the final day of its term, the Supreme Court released a decision on the Affordable Care Act. What does the decision mean and how is it going to affect your health care plan?
Takeaways:
- A general overview of the Supreme Court decision, one opinion at a time
- Individual Mandate - What are the consequences for employees and plan sponsors?
- With the Medicaid penalty being unconstitutional, will this affect plan sponsors?
- What's next for the Affordable Care Act?
Session Five: Health Care Reform Update
This session will provide political outlook on health care and examine broad strategies employers should consider in light of the Supreme Court decision.
Topics covered include:
- The election’s impact on health care
- Short and long-term implications for employers
- Employer checklist for 2012, 2013, 2014 and beyond
- What's next for the Affordable Care Act?
- Three broad health care strategies employers should consider
- Wellness program check-up
Additional Features of the Virtual Conference:
- A dynamic exchange of best practices and tips for successful implementation
- A wealth of resources including virtual exhibits, downloadable reports, white papers, videos and more
- Unlimited access to all resources and Webcast presentations through November 20.