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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.

Trump Signs New Laws Aimed at Drug Costs and Battles Democrats on Medicare

President Trump signed bipartisan legislation on Wednesday that would free pharmacists to tell consumers when they could actually save money by paying the full cash price for prescription drugs rather than using health insurance with large co-payments, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs.

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Healthcare.gov Maintenance Downtime Scheduled

The Trump administration is planning hours-long downtimes for maintenance on healthcare.gov during the coming ObamaCare sign-up period.

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No More Secrets: Congress Bans Pharmacist ‘Gag Orders’ On Drug Prices

For years, most pharmacists couldn’t give customers even a clue about an easy way to save money on prescription drugs. But the restraints are coming off.

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DOJ Approves $69B CVS-Aetna Merger with Part D Divestiture

The Department of Justice (DOJ) approved a $69 billion CVS-Aetna merger on Wednesday after Aetna agreed to sell off its Part D business. 

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Concerns About Individual Market Stability Ease as Insurer Profits Surge in Q2

Insurers reported surging profits in the individual market during the second quarter of 2018, easing short-term concerns about the stability of those marketplaces.

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High-Deductible Health Plans Fall From Grace In Employer-Based Coverage

With workers harder to find and Obamacare’s tax on generous coverage postponed, employers are hitting pause on a feature of job-based medical insurance much hated by employees: the high-deductible health plan.

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Premiums for Employer-Sponsored Family Health Coverage Rise 5% to Average $19,616; Single Premiums Rise 3% to $6,896

Annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 5 percent to average $19,616 this year, extending a seven-year run of moderate increases, finds the 2018 benchmark Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey released today. On average, workers this year are contributing $5,547 toward the cost of family coverage, with employers paying the rest.

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Forget the Savings. Employees Use HSAs as Spending Accounts

Employees by and large are using their HSAs as spending accounts rather than as tax-free long-term savings accounts and many still do not understand how to take advantage of these plans, according to a new survey from Willis Towers Watson.

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Hospitals Make it Challenging for Patients to Access Medical Records

Under HIPAA, patients have the right to obtain a copy of their medical records. However, hospitals are making it difficult for them.

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Medicare Advantage Plans Shift Their Financial Risk to Doctors

Dr. Christopher Rao jumped out of his office chair. He'd just learned an elderly patient at high risk of falling was resisting his advice to go to an inpatient rehabilitation facility following a hip fracture. 

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