With comprehensive health care reform a reality, plan sponsors are dealing with the unfolding compliance requirements. The International Foundation provides information and educational opportunities to help you navigate the new law.
Comprehensive health care reform, known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was enacted with the passage of two new laws: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), signed into law on March 23, 2010 and the Health and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, signed on March 30, 2010. What the final bill means to private and public employers, multiemployer health and welfare plans, small businesses and others will continue to be revealed via regulations in the months ahead.
Keep an eye on this site for news updates and regularly updated resources (choose your topic of interest from the column on right) . The International Foundation has followed the health care debate since day one. And now we'll help you make sense of it all.
Latest Developments
Final Regulations Released for Health Insurance Premium Tax Credits for Individuals and Families
The IRS has issued final regulations which provide guidance for individuals who enroll in qualified health plans through health exchanges and claim the premium tax credit, and for exchanges that make qualified health plans available to individuals and employers.
Medical Loss Ratio Regulations Finalized
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) have published a final rule amending the regulations implementing medical loss ratio (MLR) standards for health insurance issuers. 5/11/12 (New)
Ninth Set of FAQs Released
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury released Affordable Care Act Implementation FAQs - Set 9. These questions and answers address implementation of the summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) provisions of the Affordable Care Act. 5/11/12 (New)
Agencies Seek Input on Minimum Value, Verification and Reporting of Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage
The Treasury and the IRS have issued Notice 2012-31, which provides information and requests public comment on an approach to determining whether an eligible employer-sponsored health plan provides minimum value. They also issued Notices 2012-32 and 2012-33, which invite comments to help inform the development of guidance on annual information reporting related to health insurance coverage. Additionally, HHS has issued a bulletin to request comment from the public on a proposed interim strategy and potential regulatory approach for verification of an applicant’s access to qualifying coverage in an employer-sponsored plan. Public comments about the IRS Notices are due June 11, 2012. 4/26/12 (New)
More Medical Loss Ratio Guidance Issued
The CCIIO has released additional technical guidance on the medical loss ratio (MLR) regulations. The guidance covers a variety of topics including the applicability of the rules to certain types of plans, the form of rebates and state MLR requirements. 4/20/12 (New)
HHS Issues Medical Loss Ratio Filing Instructions for All Insurance Companies
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a memo to all insurance companies explaining how health insurance issuers should submit their Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) data as required under the Affordable Care Act. The report for the 2011 MLR reporting year must be filed by June 1, 2012. The memo describes who must file MLR reports, how to file, and when to file. 3/30/12 (New)
Supreme Court Oral Arguments on Health Care Reform
Oral arguments on various issues surrounding the Affordable Care Act are being presented Monday, March 26 through Wednesday, March 28.
Eighth Set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Released
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury released Affordable Care Act Implementation FAQs - Set 8. These questions and answers address implementation of the summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) provisions of the Affordable Care Act. 3/19/12 (New)
Final Rules on Health Care Exchanges Released
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released final rules on the health care exchanges. The rules, proposed in the summer of 2011, set standards for establishing exchanges, setting up a Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), performing the basic functions of an Exchange and certifying health plans for participation in the Exchange. The regulations also establish a streamlined, web-based system for consumers to apply for and enroll in qualified health plans and insurance affordability programs. 3/12/12 (New)
Agencies Release ACA Final Rule, Guidance and Templates for Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and Uniform Glossary of Terms
The Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services have released final regulations under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that require health insurers and group health plans to provide concise and comprehensible information about health plan benefits and coverage to those with private health coverage. The goal is to make it easier for individuals and employers to directly compare one plan to another. The rule ensures consumers have access to a short, easy-to-understand Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and a uniform glossary of terms. In conjunction with the rule, the agencies released guidance and templates. 2/9/12 (New)
DOL, HHS and Treasury Issue Technical Release on Automatic Enrollment, Waiting Periods and Employer Shared Responsibility
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has issued Technical Release 2012-01, which provides information on questions from employers and other stakeholders regarding the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) governing automatic enrollment, employer shared responsibility, and the 90-day limitation on waiting periods. These provisions are scheduled to become effective in 2014. Also outlined in the release are various approaches that the three regulatory agencies (Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services) are considering proposing in future regulations or other guidance. The technical release is being issued in substantially identical form by all three Departments. 2/9/12 (New)
IRS Issues Guidance on Form W-2 Health Coverage Value Reporting
The IRS has issued Notice 2012-9 to provide additional guidance on the informational reporting to employees of the cost of their employer-sponsored group health plan coverage on Form W-2. The IRS requested public comments on the W-2 reporting requirement in Notice 2011-28. Notice 2012-9 responds to these comments and amends, restates and supersedes Notice 2011-28. Specifically, the new notice includes guidance on the W-2 reporting as it relates to small employers, flexible spending accounts, dental and vision plans, COBRA and health reimbursement arrangements. 1/3/12 (New)
Recent News Stories
- Fate of 'Uninsurables' Hinges on Supreme Court, AP, 5/18/12 (New)
- U.S. Sets Deadline for Proposals on State Healthcare Exchanges, Reuters, 5/16/12 (New)
- Health Care Reform: GOP Preps Plan for Ruling on Law, Politico, 5/16/12 (New)
- Taxes Lurk Behind Court Test of Obama Health Law, Reuters, 5/16/12 (New)
- Insurers Face $1 Trillion Revenue at Stake in Health Law, Bloomberg, 5/14/12 (New)
- Republican State Officials Stall on Setting Up Health Insurance Marketplaces, Washington Post, 5/12/12 (New)
- Health Care Reform: What If They Throw the Whole Thing Out?, Jones Day, 5/7/12 (New)
- Preparing for the U.S. Supreme Court's Healthcare Decision, Morgan Lewis, 4/30/12 (New)
[ more news stories ]