cmonfils | February 5, 2012
January 20, 2012 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – The Obama administration is giving certain religious employers more time to comply with a health insurance contraception rule.
cmonfils | February 5, 2012
Health care spending in 2009 and 2010 grew at the slowest rates in 50 years. This startling news, published in an article by staff of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Health Affairs, was largely attributed to the shrinking economy.1 Loss of jobs and insurance, slow growth in wages and family incomes, and greater out-of-pocket health care costs have undoubtedly caused uninsured, underinsured, and low-wage workers and their families to forgo care, contributing to the slowdown in health spending. An estimated 9 million people became uninsured when they lost a job with benefits over 2008–10, and they were much more likely than those who did not lose coverage to report delaying needed care.2
cmonfils | February 3, 2012
We implement an empirical test for selection into health insurance using changes in coverage induced by the introduction of mandated health insurance in Massachusetts. Our test examines changes in the cost of the newly insured relative to those who were insured prior to the reform. We find that counties with larger increases in insurance coverage over the reform period face the smallest increase in average hospital costs for the insured population, consistent with adverse selection into insurance before the reform. Additional results, incorporating cross-state variation and data on health measures, provide further evidence for adverse selection.
cmonfils | February 3, 2012
Vermont lawmakers are taking steps to move the state toward a publicly-financed insurance program and craft a state health exchange, which is required by the 2010 federal health law and which state officials hope to use as the groundwork for their eventual move to a unique single-payer system.
cmonfils | February 3, 2012
Last week’s State of the Union speech was notable because the President hardly mentioned the new health care reform law.
Avoiding what is supposed to be the centerpiece domestic accomplishment of President Obama’s first term stuck out like a sore thumb.
cmonfils | January 30, 2012
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20120121/MAGAZINE/301219954/
cmonfils | January 30, 2012
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20120121/MAGAZINE/301219973/
cmonfils | January 27, 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the most popular provisions of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul — consumer-friendly summaries of what your insurance plan covers — suddenly seems to be at risk.
Consumer groups say it’s not Republican opposition they’re worried about, but a White House that doesn’t want to be seen, in an election year, of churning out costly new regulations.
cmonfils | January 25, 2012
January 17, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the constitutionality of federal health care reform and urging the high court to uphold the law.
Harris, joined by 12 other attorneys general, argued in the brief that the Constitution gives Congress broad powers to regulate interstate commerce, including individual conduct that substantially affects interstate commerce.
cmonfils | January 24, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Thursday that rate increases sought by a health insurance company were unreasonable, and it ordered the insurer to rescind them or justify its refusal to do so.
Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, issued the finding against the carrier, Trustmark Life Insurance Company, a unit of Trustmark Mutual Holding Company.
cmonfils | January 24, 2012
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed by Congress, most Americans will be required to be covered by health insurance or pay a penalty—the so-called individual mandate. The legality of this feature is being debated in the courts.
These Urban Institute authors estimate the effects of the ACA and the individual mandate, as well as various levels of exchange participation, using a model that simulates decisions of individuals and businesses in response to policy changes. Exchange enrollment is viewed as necessary to reduce adverse selection, or the likelihood of only the sickest choosing to be insured.
cmonfils | January 24, 2012
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) is arguably the most significant health legislation enacted in generations. As remarkable a political and policy achievement as it was, what the reform will actually accomplish is largely yet to be determined. Whether it slows the growth of costs, increases access to care, or improves the quality of care will depend on how it is implemented. Although major components of the law do not go into effect until 2014, the fate of the ACA depends on the outcome of four key events in 2012.
cmonfils | January 24, 2012
More than 480 state lawmakers plan to file a brief Thursday urging the Supreme Court to uphold President Obama’s healthcare law.
The group includes at least one lawmaker from every state, including the 26 states whose attorneys general are suing to overturn the healthcare law’s individual insurance mandate. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in March and will likely rule on the law this summer.
cmonfils | January 23, 2012
MyHealthGuide Source:
What is the most comprehensive, intensive and proven consumer protection law in the nation? What law imposes such intense fiduciary duty that customs most businesses are free to use to increase their profits can land a fiduciary in jail? (more…)
cmonfils | January 22, 2012
The IRS is hitting the ground running. Just a few days into 2012, we received Notice 2012-09, which addresses reporting health care coverage costs on Forms W-2. Following are a nine more things that Glass says we can expect from the federal government this year.
