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Category Archives: Group Health Plans
CALIFORNIA GROUP HEALTH PLANS CHANGES
Calif. health care law could lead to workforce changes
A new law in California will require companies to reclassify some independent contractors as full-time employees eligible for benefits and could lead to workforce changes, experts say. However, some full-time contractors could lose hours and be switched to part-time status, while small companies may choose to completely drop health coverage.
Kaiser Health News (10/7)
Chronic Disease Care – HDHPs with HSAs
Executive order calls for HDHPs with HSAs to cover chronic disease care
An executive order signed last week by President Donald Trump directs the IRS and the Treasury Department to create rules within 120 days that require high-deductible health plans paired with health savings accounts to cover high-value services and treatments for chronic diseases. A bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate would mandate a similar goal, and a similar measure is expected to be introduced in the House.
No further information. Will keep you posted
Legislation Proposed to End Surprise Medical Bills
Senators unveil revised legislation to end surprise medical bills
Senate Health Committee Chair Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and ranking member Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., have released a revised version of their health care legislative package with new provisions meant to protect patients against unexpected medical bills. The Lower Health Care Costs Act, released ahead of the expected health committee markup next week, would create a benchmark for health insurer-provider payment disputes, prohibit out-of-network deductibles during emergencies, and limit patients’ out-of-pocket expenses for air ambulance transport.
Becker’s Hospital Review (6/19), The Hill (6/19)
Single Payer Gets Another Look
House hearing to explore budget implications of single-payer health care
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(Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
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The House Budget Committee will hold a hearing next week to discuss single-payer health care, particularly its costs. The May 22 hearing will feature testimony from three Congressional Budget Office officials.
The Hill (5/10)
Medicare for All?
“Medicare-for-all” would hurt public health, White House says
The “Medicare-for-all” idea backed by some Democrats would increase federal spending by $2.4 trillion in 2022, reduce innovation and lead to health care shortages and extended wait times, according to a report prepared by the White House Council of Economic Advisers. The policy would “be neither more efficient nor cheaper than the current system, and it could adversely affect health,” the report said.
CNN (3/19)
MEDICARE OF ALL
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(Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)
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CMS Administrator Seema Verma said the “Medicare for all” idea being pushed by some Democrats would decimate doctor networks and create a permanent physician shortage because the program doesn’t cover full health care provider costs. “Under ‘Medicare for all,’ you either take private insurance away from those 170 million Americans, or greatly restrict access to it, meaning there is no relief valve for physicians facing up to 40% payment cuts,” Verma told attendees at AHIP’s Medicare conference in Washington.
Kaiser Health News (10/16), Modern Healthcare (tiered subscription model) (10/16)
Good News on Health Plan Changes
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Trump signs health care executive order
President Donald Trump signed an executive order today designed to make it easier for small businesses to band together to purchase health insurance through association plans. The order will also relax restrictions on short-term health plans and allow consumers to pay premiums using health reimbursement arrangements.
New York Post (10/12), The Hill (10/11), The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (10/11 |
Insurance Sales Across State Lines
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Trump plans executive order allowing health insurers to sell across state lines
President Donald Trump said he plans to issue an executive order possibly next week that would allow Americans to buy health insurance across state lines, a move that Republicans have said could cut costs and boost competition in the insurance market. Trump said he also plans to work with Democrats on a bipartisan health care bill in the next few months.
The Hill (9/27), The Examiner (Washington, D.C.) (9/27) |
Drug Transparency Bill – Calfornia
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