Cigna Corp. agreed to buy Express Scripts Holding Co. for $54 billion in cash and stock, another move toward consolidation between U.S. health insurers and the companies that oversee patients’ drug benefits. The acquisition is a shakeup for the industry that runs prescription drug programs for insurers and employers, negotiating prices with drugmakers and sometimes [...]
The Washington Times (1/31, Airey) reports that Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed legislation Wednesday that will require all health insurers in the District to cover several women’s health procedures without any out-of-pocket costs. The move is aimed at protecting residents in the event that the GOP-controlled Congress repeals the ACA. The list of services [...]
Model Notice Informs Employees of Eligibility for Premium Assistance Under Medicaid or CHIP The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has updated its model notice for employers to provide information on eligibility for premium assistance under Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This notice is generally updated twice a year. Click here to download [...]
Monday 1/22/2018 President Trump signed a deal to delay the tax Cadillac/Excise Tax on Health Insurance until 2022!
Reminder Certain Employers Subject to OSH Act Must Post Form Until Apr. 30 Employers subject to the recordkeeping requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) are reminded to post their 2017 OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, from February 1–April 30, 2018. OSHA Form 300A lists the [...]
The New York Times 11/16/2017 reports that as the GOP and the Trump Administration make efforts to repeal the ACA, the IRS has started, “for the first time, to enforce one of the law’s most polarizing provisions: the employer mandate.” The article says the IRS will soon send letters to thousands of businesses – “many of [...]
You can expect to see a slight increase in IRS penalties related to the Affordable Care Act for the 2018 and 2019 tax filing seasons, which reflect reporting for the 2017 and 2018 tax years, respectively. These penalties apply to Applicable Large Employers (ALEs), which are organizations with 50 or more full-time or full-time equivalent [...]
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria rejected a bid by Democratic state officials to temporarily block the White House from restoring healthcare subsidies called for in the Affordable Care Act, saying the president’s action is likely to be lawful and will cause little immediate harm. Most states anticipated Trump’s action and established measures to keep health insurance [...]
President Trump Ends ACA Cost Sharing Reductions On the evening of October 12, 2017, President Trump announced that cost sharing reductions for low income Americans in relation to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) would be stopped. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed that payments will be stopped immediately. [...]
On Thursday, October 12, 2017, the White House released an Executive Order, signed by President Trump, titled "Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States." It is important to note that the Executive Order (EO) does not implement any new laws or regulations, but instead directs various federal agencies to explore options relating to [...]