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Compliance

This section focuses on health care compliance and regulations – both national and state – including the ACA. It includes changes in health care law, regulation, and court decisions and their impact on health insurance professionals, employers, and individuals.

U.S. Readies Small-Business Grants as PPP Nears End

The federal government is preparing to open two new industry-specific small-business relief programs, one of them months in the works, as its signature pandemic aid effort, the Paycheck Protection Program, nears its end.

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Lyft Pass For Healthcare Lets Patients Book Their Own Rides To The Doctor

Ride-sharing company Lyft is letting patients schedule nonemergency medical transport (NEMT) on health organization's dime with the launch of Lyft Pass for Healthcare.

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Payers, Providers Clash Over Telehealth Reimbursement As Congress Mulls Changes

As members of Congress decide how to expand access to telehealth after the pandemic, one of the biggest questions has centered around how much Medicare providers should be paid for virtual care.

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Over-The-Counter COVID-19 Rapid Tests To Be Sent To Major Pharmacies This Week

Store shelves at pharmacies across the county will soon be filled with affordable, quick, at-home coronavirus test kits. BinaxNOW, a rapid COVID test made by Abbott Laboratories, was shipped Monday to major pharmaceutical chains, including Walgreens, CVS and Walmart, to be sold over the counter.

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Small Number Of Medicare Part D, Part B Drugs Make Up Most Spending

A relatively small share of drugs made up the majority of Medicare drug spending, according to a new analysis that gives an idea of how drug price negotiations could impact overall spending. The analysis, released Monday from the Kaiser Family Foundation, examined the top drugs for both Medicare Part D and Part B. The costliest drugs ...

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Healthcare Loses 44,000 Jobs During Q1 2021, While Spending, Prices Continue To Grow

Employment in the U.S. healthcare industry has dropped by 44,000 jobs over the course of the first quarter of 2021, according to reports from nonprofit healthcare research and consulting group Altarum. These job losses came alongside continued spending growth recovery and increases in overall healthcare prices. Modest employment gains in February and March were unable to ...

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3 Common Mistakes Employers Should Watch For When Dealing With Employee COVID-19 Vaccinations

Now that COVID-19 vaccines are becoming more widely available, many employers are faced with an important decision: whether to require or simply encourage employees to get vaccinated. This decision can be fraught with difficulties if not handled correctly. In advising clients on how best to deal with the vaccine issue, three common mistakes employers make ...

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Hospital Comparison Shopping Still Difficult Despite New Price Transparency Rule

A controversial price transparency rule that went into effect in January was intended to enable consumers to comparison shop for certain healthcare services. But a new study from Kaiser Family Foundation discovered that such comparison shopping is difficult among different providers. The study, published Friday, also found that few hospitals are giving out payer-negotiated rates, a key ...

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House Passes Bill To Avert Medicare Cuts

The House on Tuesday approved a bill that would put off automatic cuts to Medicare provider payments until the end of the year. The bill passed with a strong bipartisan majority of 384-38. Technically, the House vote comes nearly two weeks after the cuts were set to take effect, but the delay came with knowledge ...

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POP: Plan Documents And Renewals

Employers commonly allow employees to fund their portions of health premiums – that is, their employee contributions – with pre-tax dollars. This feature is so common that many employers (incorrectly) assume they are automatically privileged to utilize pre-tax dollars to fund benefits, just by sponsoring a health plan alone. While there is some work involved ...

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