ACA Category Banner

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.

Healthcare Coverage Premiums Stable For Now, But Next Year Could See Hikes: Survey

Healthcare insurance premiums remained stable in 2022 compared to 2021 but might surge next year because of inflation and the demands of employees for better mental health coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s “2022 Employer Health Benefits Survey.” “Demand” might be the right word, given the competition among employers for workers in a tight ...

Read More

Self-Funded Plans Ignore The Consolidated Appropriations Act At Their Peril

It would be understandable if some leaders of self-funded benefits plans have not devoted ample time and attention to the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), introduced into law in late 2021. Plan sponsors, including big and small companies, labor unions, and other organizations that provide health benefits, have had their hands full fending off challenges on ...

Read More

DOL Gets Backlash On Its New ‘Gig Worker’ Rule, Extends Comment Period

After several business groups complained about the original timeline of the DOL’s proposed independent contractor rule, the agency is now allowing interested parties 15 additional days to comment on the rule. The U.S. Department of Labor extended the deadline from November 28 to December 13. The proposed rule, released on October 11 (and published in the ...

Read More

Healthcare Operating Costs Rising Almost Everywhere, Report Says

Operating costs in healthcare centers and hospitals across the country are rising amid inflationary pressures, staffing shortages and supply chain disruption, and such locations are going to have to continue implementing measures to help mitigate the highly challenging situation, according to a report from the Medical Group Management Association. While revenues vary across locations, costs rose almost universally from ...

Read More

Medicare Fines for High Hospital Readmissions Drop, but Nearly 2,300 Facilities Are Still Penalized

The federal government has eased its annual punishments for hospitals with higher-than-expected readmission rates in an acknowledgment of the upheaval the covid-19 pandemic has caused, resulting in the lightest penalties since 2014. The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program has been a mainstay of Medicare’s hospital payment system since it began in 2012. Created by the Affordable ...

Read More

CMS Rule Seeks To Curb Delays In Medicare Coverage, Expands Special Enrollment Periods

The Biden administration issued a final rule that seeks to make it easier for beneficiaries to enroll in Medicare and curb delays in getting coverage. The final rule, released Friday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), would expand the number of special enrollment periods (SEPs) to let beneficiaries change their coverage outside ...

Read More

The Word & Brown Companies Named Among Business Insurance’s “Best Places To Work” For 2022

Business Insurance has selected The Word & Brown Companies among its “Best Places to Work in Insurance” for 2022. The award recognizes outstanding insurance-related employers for their outstanding performance in establishing workplaces where employees can thrive, enjoy their work, and help the companies grow.

Read More

40% Of Older Americans Are Pushing Back Retirement Due To Inflation

Inflation is forcing older American workers to delay their retirement, leading to higher benefits costs for employers, stalled career progress for younger workers, and reduced morale and mental health for team members, according to new research from the Nationwide Retirement Institute.

Read More

3 Ways Small Businesses Can Attract And Retain Top Talent Amid Today’s Competitive Labor Market

Historically, large corporations have a recruiting edge over small businesses because of their ability to offer a full range of employee benefit packages and experiences. But, in today’s highly competitive labor market, small businesses are increasingly realizing the importance of competing with the enterprise for employees and adapting to the modern workforce.

Read More

Employers Are Concerned About Covering Workers’ Mental Health Needs, Survey Finds

Almost three years after the covid-19 pandemic upended workplaces, mental health coverage remains a priority for employers, according to an annual employer survey fielded by KFF.

Read More
arrowcaret-downclosefacebook-squarehamburgerinstagram-squarelinkedin-squarepauseplaytwitter-squareyoutube-square