Insurance News

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. […]

Congress Repeals the Cadillac Tax and Health Insurance Tax Congress has voted to fully repeal the Cadillac (excise) Tax and the Health Insurance Tax. The legislation fully repeals the Cadillac Tax and repeals the HIT effective January 1, 2021, which means the HIT will still be in place for 2020. According to the Congressional Budget […]

The Partnership for America’s Health Care Future released a series of new videos on the differences (and lack thereof) between Medicare-for-All and Medicare Buy-In. The overall campaign encourages meaningful reforms to the nation’s healthcare system that preserve market-based, employer-provided healthcare rather than attempting to implement a disruptive one-size-fits-all system. NAHU is a member of the […]

On Wednesday, Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA) and Jason Smith (R-MO) introduced H.R. 3796, the Health Savings for Seniors Act, NAHU-supported legislation that would allow seniors covered under Medicare to continue contributing to HSAs after age 65. Specifically, the bill allows anyone enrolled in Medicare, either traditional fee for service or Medicare Advantage plans (including Medicare […]

President Trump signed an executive order this afternoon directing federal agencies to increase healthcare price and quality transparency. The order specifically directs the of Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services to issue guidance and propose regulations that would disclose negotiated rates, cost-of-care and de-identified federal healthcare data, and to expand the availability […]