Search
New Guidance on Over-the-Counter Medicines and Drugs
Health care reform established new restrictions on the reimbursement of over-the counter (OTC) medicines and drugs purchased after...
Sep 12, 2010
Health Reform – Are you Ready?
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the health reform law) requires all group health plans to comply with certain mandates,...
Sep 6, 2010
Legislation Introduced to Repeal Employer Mandate
US Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has introduced the American Job Protection Act (S. 3501); legislation that would repeal the new "pay or...
Aug 31, 2010
Health Reform Rules on Claims, Appeals, and External Review –Model Forms Released
Under the health reform law, all non-grandfathered plans must comply with new federal internal appeals and external review requirements...
Aug 29, 2010
Regulations Released Internal Appeals & External Review Processes Related to Health Insurance Reform
The various rules related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act...
Aug 16, 2010
Health Insurance Reform Law Aids Nursing Mothers
Most of the attention related to health insurance reform has been given to the area of employee benefit coverage, but there are other...
Jul 29, 2010
Wellness Gets a Boost
Beginning in 2014, under the new health reform law employers can offer increased incentives to employees who participate in a wellness...
Jul 28, 2010
No Automatic Form 5500 Filing Extension Granted
It has come to our attention that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will not grant an automatic extension of the Form 5500 deadline for...
Jul 22, 2010
Reimbursement Restriction for Over-the-Counter Drugs
Under the new health reform law, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are no longer qualified for purposes of distributions/reimbursements under...
Jul 21, 2010
Determining Parity for Outpatient Benefits Under Mental Health Act
A new FAQ from the Department of Labor (DOL) on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) provides important...
Jul 21, 2010
NJ Officials Issue 2011 Expected State Plan Benefit Increases
On July 14, 2010, the commissions that manage the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program...
Jul 19, 2010
DOL Releases Non-Subsidy COBRA Model Notices
A COBRA premium reduction subsidy was made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to eligible individuals who...
Jul 18, 2010
Preventative Care Regulations Released
One of the provisions of the recently passed national health reform law stipulates that for new plans, preventive care must be covered at...
Jul 15, 2010
HealthCare.gov Website Now Live
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has created an internet web portal called "HealthCare.gov" through which...
Jul 14, 2010
Changes Proposed to HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Enforcement Rules
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") issued new proposed rules to modify and strengthen the Health Insurance...
Jul 13, 2010
DOL Issues Model Health Care Reform Notices
The Department of Labor (DOL) has published model notice documents that can be used to satisfy notice requirements under the Affordable...
Jul 7, 2010
Early Retiree Reinsurance Applications Start June 29
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began accepting applications for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP) on June...
Jun 30, 2010
Patient’s Bill of Rights Regulations Released
On June 22, agencies of the federal government released interim final regulations setting forth the requirements for group health plans...
Jun 23, 2010
Electronic Filing: Form 5500
Unless an exemption applies, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires the plan administrator of each separate ERISA...
Jun 22, 2010
New York State Passes “Prior-Approval” Rate Increase Insurance Law
The New York State Insurance Department now has the authority to review and approve all health premium increases for insured plans before...
Jun 14, 2010