Adam V. Russo | December 15, 2009
Move seen boosting legislative effort, but time is short
Jerry Geisel
WASHINGTON—President Obama’s call last week for extending the COBRA premium subsidy increases the likelihood that Congress will renew the program, experts say. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 15, 2009
With clock ticking, Senate measure proposals in flux
Jerry Geisel
WASHINGTON—Health care reform legislation is inching its way to a Senate floor vote as Democratic leaders continue to wheel and deal to get the support needed to assure passage. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 15, 2009
Reid Still Looking For 60 Votes
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is still seeking support from a number of Senate Democrats who have yet committed to support his healthcare reform package. As reported, a compromise package was negotiated between a select group of liberal and moderate Senate Democrats, which Reid has sent to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for an official cost and coverage estimate. Those results are expected within the next few days. It is likely that the cost estimate of the compromise will come in at an increased cost to the overall healthcare reform package. The provision that will most significantly lead to the increase will be the proposed lower of Medicare eligibility to 55 years of age. Medicare premiums are significantly higher that those expected in the proposed exchanges, so any subsidies for eligible low-income workers or early retirees will be more expensive for taxpayers. The expected increase in cost as well as the expansion of a public entitlement program raises the most concern among non-committed Senate moderates. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 11, 2009
As was reported, a loose and tentative compromise has been reached between Senate liberals Democrats and Senate moderate Democrats on the conceptual size, scope and structure of the proposed government-run healthcare plan. To date, Majority Leader Reid has made no language available, even to those Senators involved in the negotiations. The Majority Leader has sent the proposal to the Congressional Budget Office to get an official estimate on cost and coverage. Those numbers are expected to be released by CBO next Monday. At that point, the Majority leader will shop both the results and the language to Senators to gage if he has the necessary 60 votes. Once he has 60 firm commitments, he will call for a series of cloture votes to end debate. Once all the necessary cloture votes have been approved, Reid would then call for a vote on final passage. As final passage vote can not be filabustered, it only needs a simple majority to pass. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 9, 2009
A group of liberal and moderate Senate Democrats reached an agreement late last night in their negotiations on the structure of a government insurance option to be included in the Senate’s Healthcare reform bill. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 8, 2009
Due to technical difficulties with GoTo Webinar we will be rescheduling today’s webinar on “Innovative Plan Language Techniques” to next Thursday, December 17th at 12 PM EST.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
Adam V. Russo | December 8, 2009
Effort to curb Medicare costs raises questions
Roberto Ceniceros
Insurers and self-insured employers face a Dec. 31 deadline to register with a federal agency, but numerous questions remain about what workers compensation and liability claims data must be fed into the Medicare system, several experts say. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 8, 2009
Changes expected as offstage dealings take shape in Senate
by Jerry Geisel
WASHINGTON—Health care reform legislation has moved to the Senate floor, but the most significant activity is happening behind closed doors.
The Senate last week opened debate on a reform bill put together by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., melded from differing measures previously approved by the Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 8, 2009
Davis v. AK Steel Corp., 2009 WL 3853608 (W.D. Pa. 2009)
The trial court in this case found that an employer’s SPD hand-delivery process satisfied DOL regulations, which require that the process be reasonably calculated to ensure that recipients receive SPDs and likely to result in full distribution. The employer had denied an employee’s claim for LTD benefits on the grounds that the employee failed to apply within the plan’s required timeframe. The employee sued claiming, among other things, that he never received the plan’s SPD that would have informed him of the application deadline. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 8, 2009
An employee’s spouse sued the insurer of her cancer insurance policy in state court after it refused to pay for medical treatment she had received. The insurer removed the case to federal court, arguing that her claim was preempted by ERISA. The spouse argued that the case belonged in state court because the policy fit within the regulatory safe harbor that excepts from ERISA certain voluntary insurance arrangements. At issue was whether the policy, which was offered through a cafeteria plan, fell outside the voluntary plan safe harbor because the employer had endorsed it. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 7, 2009
In rare visit, cites historic opportunity
By Lisa Wangsness, The Boston Globe, www.boston.com
WASHINGTON – President Obama made a rare Sunday visit to Capitol Hill yesterday, imploring Senate Democrats in a closed-door session to resolve their disagreements on health care and finish work on the sweeping legislation. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 7, 2009
AHIP, www.ahip.org
(1) Senate Begins Debating and Voting on Amendments to Health Reform Bill
(2) CBO Analysis Addresses Impact of Senate Bill on Health Insurance Premiums
(3) Senators Call for Extension of COBRA Subsidies
(4) “Federal Insurance Office Act” approved by House Committee; Does Not Apply to Health Insurance Plans (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 4, 2009
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Connecticut’s attorney general has sued CVS Caremark Corp, accusing the drugstore chain of selling food, beverages and over-the-counter medications
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said CVS sold expired items including antacids, baby formula, cough medicine, energy drinks and foods including eggs, milk and yogurt in 20 of 45 stores in the state that his office spot-checked this summer. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 4, 2009
I received this from my good friend Bill McKelvey at AMF.
If you care about our country and the freedoms we enjoy, please take a few minutes to learn about the “extra’s” that have been included under the guise of HealthCare for all. If you have never contacted a Senator or representative about an issue, this should be the one. If you are in agreement, please forward this to as many as possible in your address book. Thanks. Bill (more…)
Adam V. Russo | December 4, 2009
By Catherine Dodge and Nicole Gaouette
Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) — White House Budget Director Peter Orszag says the medical-system overhaul now being debated in the Senate puts in place “crucial steps” to help slow the growth of U.S. health-care spending.
As the lawmakers struggle to reach consensus on the nation’s most far-reaching health legislation in four decades, some economists and analysts don’t share that confidence in either the Senate or the House bills. (more…)
