Insurance News

On February 10, the administration announced that federal agencies are evaluating and updating federal independent dispute resolution (IDR) guidance following a district court ruling. In the latest decision, U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle vacated all of the revised regulations challenged by the association, including the rule that arbiters must primarily consider the qualifying payment amount (QPA). […]

Congress passed a $1.7 trillion omnibus package at the end of December. The massive spending package included two major NABIP-supported provisions regarding telehealth and long-term care. Individuals will now be able to use existing retirement accounts to pay for long-term insurance. More specifically, the provision will permit individuals to pay up to $2,500 each year […]

HHS released new guidance this week related to the surprise-billing ban included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA). The CAA – which passed at the end of 2020 – included the No Surprises Act, which holds patients harmless from surprise medical bills, including from air-ambulance providers, by ensuring they are only responsible for their in-network […]

NAHU received clarification from CMS/CCIIO late last week regarding the implementation of the family-glitch final rule as it related to the upcoming open enrollment period that runs from November 1 through January 15. As a reminder, an employer’s plan is not considered affordable if the employee must contribute more than 9.5 percent (9.61 percent in […]

In this week’s news in the world of healthcare mergers and acquisitions: UnitedHealth Group has finalized its acquisition of Change Healthcare following a district court ruling in their favor, Walgreens finalized its majority stake in home healthcare company CareCentrix, and provider data management vendor Kyruus announced acquisition of patient engagement platform Epion Health. After a […]

On September 9, Representatives Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) introduced H.R. 8791, legislation that would create a one-time special enrollment period (SEP) for seniors enrolled in COBRA coverage to enroll in Medicare Part B without a penalty. This is an issue […]

According to new guidance from the IRS, the personal protective equipment (PPE) people use to help stop the spread of COVID-19 is now a deductible medical expense under IRC Section 213(d). Common items that we all need to buy, like masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, could now be part of someone’s medical-expense deduction on […]

With Pfizer’s and Moderna’s coronavirus vaccines on their way to FDA approval, Americans should anticipate widespread deployment of at least one company’s concoction over the next few months. A limited number of COVID-19 vaccine doses may start to become available as early as this month, with more doses available over time. There is, however, one […]

On Wednesday, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law. The Act includes several provisions to protect American workers and assist employers in providing emergency paid sick leave, as well as paid family leave in the case of school closures, for working families impacted by COVID-19. This is considered to be the […]

CMS released guidance this week to try to ensure that patients have access to critical healthcare services they need as the Coronavirus continues to spread throughout the U.S. In the memorandum issued on Tuesday, CMS outlined the flexibilities MA and Part D plans have to waive certain requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. […]