This webcast will provide an up-to-date review of the regulations and other guidance issued by the agencies responsible for administrating the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Our presenter will review the following important issues:

• DOL, Treasury, and HHS Regulations on the 90 day waiting period
• Proposed HHS Rules on Minimum Value for group health plans and how this is calculated
• DOL FAQs on compliance with the ACA maximum deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums
• Final Treasury Rules on the availability of the premium assistance tax credits and the impact of making dependent coverage available through a group health plan
• HHS Rules on Exchange Standards and the application process to obtain market coverage
• Navigators vs. Application Assisters – Why stakeholders might want to consider becoming an Application Assister
• HHS Rules on Medicaid expansion – Why this is an important consideration for plan sponsors

Jeffrey S. Endick, Presenter [view bio]
Principal
Slevin & Hart, P.C.
Washington, D.C.

Effective beginning on or after January 1, 2014, individuals and small groups will be able to buy insurance directly through a health care exchange. In addition, Federal premium subsidies will be available to individuals with household income up to 140% of the Federal Poverty Level.

This session is designed to provide the latest information on:

• What is happening with the exchanges
• Overview of the three different exchange models
  1. State-Based exchange
  2. Federally facilitated exchange
  3. State and Federal partnership exchange
• Impact of these models on plan sponsors
• How subsidies interact with the employer penalty and whether individuals with access to employer-sponsored coverage can get subsidized coverage on an Exchange.
• Steps plan sponsors need to implement to prepare for the October 1, 2013 enrollment process.
• Implementation of plan design options to avoid potential penalties against plan sponsors for failure to offer health coverage to plan participants and their dependents under age 26.

Kathryn L. Bakich, Presenter [view bio]
Senior Vice President, National Health Compliance Practice Leader
The Segal Company
Washington, D.C.

Health care reform is constantly in the media. Because of this media barrage, plan participants are beginning to ask what health care reform means to them and their families. Health care reform education will be one of the most complex communication challenges plan sponsors will face, especially as the story continues to unfold. Don’t wait until open enrollment to begin this discussion.

This session will prepare you to begin shaping your own communication plan by covering:

• How and what to communicate now and for the remainder of the year
• A review of what's different for employers and plan participants
• What plan participants are going to care about
• What employers must do to comply
• What employers should do to prepare participants for what's coming
• Additional considerations to ensure communication is inclusive of diverse populations and needs

John Moses, Ph.D., Presenter [view bio]
Corporate Exchange Communication Leader
Aon Hewitt

Jennifer Chen, Presenter [view bio]
Partner and Leader
Compliance Communication Center of Expertise (COE)
Aon Hewitt

With Obama’s second term and a new Congress, plan sponsors can expect a lot of activity in the health care employee benefits space in 2013 and beyond. This session will examine what this legislative session could mean for plan-sponsored health plans. We will review some key health care reform developments stemming from recent regulatory guidance, discuss health reform strategy, and provide important reminders of upcoming obligations.

In this webinar, listeners will learn:

• The political landscape and health care reform
• Upcoming health reform milestones in 2013-2014
• The potential impact of recently released wellness program proposed regulations
• The highlights of the new HIPAA omnibus final regulations

Tami Simon, Presenter [view bio]
Managing Director, Knowledge Resources
Buck Consultants
Washington, D.C.

• How employers can avoid liability if a small percentage (5%) of full-time employees are not offered health plan coverage
• New transition rules which delay the effective date of the Pay or Play Rule for non-calendar year plans
• How rehired employees, employees on leave, and teachers are treated for Pay or Play Rule purposes
• Special rules for multiemployer plans and employers contributing to those plans.

John Barlament, Presenter [view bio]
Attorney, Partner
Quarles & Brady LLP
Milwaukee, WI

States are in various stages of establishing their health care exchanges. In addition to improving access, many states are using the formation process as an opportunity to evaluate strategies to improve quality and lower costs. What lessons can funds learn from these strategies?

• Progress on state exchange formation
• Integration of value-based initiatives in the exchange creation process
• Examples of innovative state initiatives

Robin J. Lunge, Presenter [view bio]
Director of Health Care Reform
State of Vermont Agency of Administration and Sonya Schwartz
Program Director—National Academy for State Health Policy