Adam V. Russo | December 28, 2009

by Barbra Rabinowitz, Berry,Odom & Rabinowitz, LLP

Final regulations under the Internal Revenue Code have recently been issued which require group health plan sponsors to self-report the applicable excise tax resulting from a failure to comply with several federal group health plan requirements. While the excise tax liability associated with failure to comply with such requirements is not new, the final regulations now require the plan sponsor/employer to self-report such liability. (more…)

Category: HIPAA, Mental Health Parity, News | No Comments »
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Adam V. Russo | December 28, 2009

by Dwight Mankin, President, NCN

For more information about NCN please click here.

Over the last few months we have seen a spotlight directed at healthcare. Whether the debate is focused on access or cost, we are faced with dealing with the structure and delivery of healthcare for the future. But as the debate goes on, one has to ask the question, “How did we get here?” It is by asking the question and answering it in an intelligent manner are we best able to avoid the mistakes of the past and provide a workable solution for the future. We cannot afford to have history repeat itself. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | December 28, 2009

Thursday morning, by a vote of 60 to 39, the Senate approved an amended version of H.R. 3590, the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” (more…)

Category: Health Care Legislation, Subrogation | No Comments »
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Adam V. Russo | December 28, 2009

SIIA www.siia.org

December 24, 2009 –The United States Senate today passed its healthcare reform legislation on a straight party-line vote of 60 to 39, setting up a showdown with the House of Representatives next month to produce a final bill for signature by President Obama. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | December 28, 2009

Check out the ridiculous press release by the Trial Lawyers Association – pretty easy to figure out what they truly care about!!!

SENATE PASSES HISTORIC HEALTHCARE REFORM LEGISLATION!

American Association for Justice www.justice.org

Happy holidays to all. Today the Senate made history by voting 60-39 to pass President Obama’s number one legislative priority, comprehensive healthcare reform legislation. The road was long and arduous, and the process was at times grueling and uncertain. However, the resulting bill will provide relief to millions of struggling Americans. I invite you to read Politico’s coverage of the vote and draw your own conclusions based on your personal ideologies on the overall legislation. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | December 28, 2009

Worried the current regulation may limit investment advice, Labor Department hopes to amend definition by June

by Jessica Toonkel Marquez, Investment News www.investmentnews.com

The Labor Department is planning to expand its definition of fiduciary under ERISA — a move that would have implications for all financial advisers that work on retirement plans. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | December 23, 2009

As a subrogation and cost containment leader, The Phia Group continuously strives to introduce innovative cost containment techniques for the health care industry. Each month The Phia Group hosts a unique Webinar on key topics relevant to the needs of the entire health care market. The Phia Group has already presented several Webinars with great success for hundreds of attendees. Previous Webinars have focused on Mental Health Parity, Never Events and Innovative Plan Language Techniques. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | December 22, 2009

The House of Representatives adjourned for the year on December 16 and is not expected to reconvene until early January. The Senate is expected to adjourn after completing action on the pending health reform bill, possibly before Christmas, although there is considerable uncertainty about the outcome of this debate. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | December 22, 2009

On December 16, President Obama signed into law an omnibus appropriations bill, H.R. 3288. This bill received House approval on December 10 and Senate approval on December 13. It provides approximately $500 billion in funding for fiscal year 2010 for federal agencies and programs that normally are funded by six separate spending bills, including the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations Act. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | December 22, 2009

Washington, DC – Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), released the following statement on Saturday on the Senate health care reform legislation:

“The debate before us today is not whether insurance market reforms are needed. In fact, health plans proposed and support a complete overhaul of insurance market rules and new consumer protections to ensure all Americans have guaranteed access to affordable, portable coverage. The critical policy questions are whether the current legislation can bend the cost curve and result in a sustainable system. While the bill makes important improvements in access and takes steps towards cost-containment, it lacks accountability to ensure that costs are brought under control. Moreover, this bill includes provisions that will increase costs for families and small businesses and disrupt the quality coverage on which millions of Americans rely today.” (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | December 21, 2009

– On December 9, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, affirmed the federal government’s position that private insurance companies are “plans” and therefore subject to federal jurisdiction. (US vs. Frost)

Although other federal courts have held that contracts issued by insurance companies may be subject to federal jurisdiction under Title 18 Section 1347, US vs. Frost is the first case an insurance company itself has been held to be a “plan,” because, as the government claimed in this case, all insurance companies are “plans.” (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | December 21, 2009

COBRA Subsidy to be Extended by 6 months

Earlier today the U.S. Senate voted to thwart a filibuster on a defense appropriations bill that included a provision to extend federal COBRA subsidies for the unemployed. The vote cleared the way for a final vote on the bill later today or early Saturday, which will allow the President to sign into law before the New Year. Final passage would extend the 9-month, 65 percent subsidy by six months and would apply to those workers who are involuntarily terminated through February of 2010. The legislation also would provide another six months of subsidized coverage for beneficiaries whose nine-month COBRA premium subsidy has run out. Employers would be required to notify current and future COBRA beneficiaries of the new 15-month premium subsidy and employers can offset future COBRA premiums or issue refund checks to beneficiaries who overpaid their COBRA premium.

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Adam V. Russo | December 17, 2009

click  here to see today’s Webinar on Innovative Plan Language Techniques.

click here to download the PowerPoint slides.

Please contact Bethany Hoffman with any questions or comments at 781-535-5608 or by email bhoffman@phiagroup.com

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Adam V. Russo | December 16, 2009

Pledge to advance weaker health bill

By Lisa Wangsness and Susan Milligan

Globe Staff / December 16, 2009

WASHINGTON – Senate Democratic leaders abandoned the last vestige of a government health plan yesterday but pledged to move ahead on a sweeping health care overhaul, infuriating many liberals but pleasing President Obama, who said victory on his highest domestic priority was within sight. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | December 15, 2009

Joanne Wojcik

For many benefit managers, the economic downturn resulted in a domino effect of events this year.

Perhaps the single biggest benefits event came early, when Congress enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which provided a 65% subsidy to laid-off workers who purchased COBRA coverage from their employers. (more…)

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