Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) issuers of certain health insurance policies and plan sponsors of certain self-funded health plans must pay a fee to fund a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund. This trust fund will be used to allow the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to conduct research on the clinical effectiveness
Understanding Employee Benefits and key developments in the employee benefits field and items of interest to our clients. MORE
Health Care Reform
Health Care Reform Challenges – Oral Arguments at the Supreme Court
By Stinson LLP on
On Monday March 26th, almost exactly two years after its enactment on March 23, 2010, the United States Supreme Court will begin the first of three days of oral arguments relating to the health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“PPACA”). The Supreme Court agreed to hear six hours …
A Quirk in the Effective Date for the New Summary of Benefits and Coverage
By Stinson LLP on
This is one of several posts we intend to make on the recently issued guidance on the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC). This is the four (double sided, so actually eight) page uniform summary that will be required for group health plans, as well as for individual insurance policies. It is intended to provide …
March 2011 Developments – Delay of Federal Enforcement of Claims Procedures and Change in State Income Taxation of Health Benefits in Minnesota
By Stinson LLP on
This is the twelfth in a series of articles about health care reform.
One year after the enactment of the health care reform legislation on March 23, 2010, changes are still being made on both the federal and state levels. This article addresses one recent federal policy and one state law change from the State…
In Holiday Spirit, IRS Defers Nondiscrimination Requirement for Insured Health Plans
By Stinson LLP on
This is the eleventh in a series of articles about health care reform.
In October of this year, we published an article, available here, describing the new health care reform requirement that non-grandfathered fully insured health plans must not discriminate in favor of highly compensated individuals. We mentioned that it was unclear how that…
Stiff Penalties for Paying Disproportionate Share of Executive’s Premiums
By Stinson LLP on
This is the ninth in a series of articles about health care reform.
This article addresses a provision of the Health Care Reform Law that has not gotten as much press as some of the other provisions, such as the requirement to cover adult children to age 26 or the elimination of lifetime limits on…
Benefit Claims Review Process After PPACA
By Stinson LLP on
This is the eighth in a series of articles about health care reform.
This Q&A focuses on new joint interim final regulations from the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services. The regulations address the internal and external benefit claims review procedures for nongrandfathered group health plans.…
Preventive Care Health Coverage Mandate
By Stinson LLP on
This is the seventh in a series of articles about health care reform.
Q.1 What do the new rules require?
A.1 The new rules require nongrandfathered group health plans and group and individual health insurance polices see previous grandfathered article to provide certain preventive services to enrollees under the plan without cost-sharing. Generally speaking, this…
Retaining Grandfathered Plan Status Under New Regulations
By Stinson LLP on
This is the fifth in a series of articles about health care reform.
Q.1 What is a grandfathered plan?
A.1 A grandfathered plan is a group health plan or individual insurance policy that was in existence on March 23, 2010. These plans are able to take advantage of certain delayed effective dates for changes required…
Wellness Programs
By Stinson LLP on
This is the fourth in a series of articles about health care reform.
Q.1 I have heard that there are provisions in the Act to encourage the development of wellness programs in health plans. Is that true?
A.1 Yes. One provision in the Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop requirements…