Tag: Health Care Reform

Arizona Voters Pass Health Care Choice Measure

by David I. Weissman, Ford & Harrison LLP Arizona voters resoundingly said “no thank you” to federal health care reform legislation on Election Day, voting in favor of Arizona Proposition 106 by a fairly significant margin. Proposition 106 amends the Arizona Constitution by: prohibiting any law or rule from compelling any individual, employer, or health […]

Employers Welcome IRS Deferral of Health Care Reform’s W-2 Reporting Requirement

The IRS recently issued Notice 2010-69, which defers the Form W-2 reporting requirement found in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) by clarifying that such reporting won’t be mandatory for W-2s issued for 2011. The provision in the PPACA that addresses this W-2 reporting was designed to be effective for taxable years beginning […]

First Wave of Health Care Reform Changes Arrives September 23

Tomorrow, it will be six months since President Barack Obama signed health care reform into law. However, September 23 is not only health care reform’s six-month anniversary but also the day several significant provisions under the health care reform package (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation […]

Health Care Reform Gives Employer Wellness Programs a Boost — But Be Careful

by  Susan Fahey Desmond Well, here it is — the Health Care Reform and Control Act. Beginning January 1, 2014, every individual will be required to have “minimum essential coverage” through individual market, employer-provided or certain other coverage (e.g., Medicare or CHIP).  Also, beginning January 12, 2014, any employer who employed an average of 50 […]

September 23: The First Step on Road to Health Care Reform Compliance

By Tamara S. Killion Groom Law Group, Chartered On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. Among other things, the Act dramatically changes health insurance coverage, including employer-provided health insurance and employer-sponsored group health plans (together, “group health plans”). The law is complex and has many […]

IRS Issues Guidance on 2011 Health Care Account Changes

On September 3, 2010, the IRS issued guidance addressing the changes made by the health care reform package (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010) to the use of certain health care accounts. More specifically, effective in 2011, the health care reform legislation limits […]

Departments Release Health Care Reform Regulations on Preventive Care

On Monday, July 19, the Federal Register published interim final regulations from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury requiring new health plans beginning on or after September 23, 2010, to cover certain evidence-based preventive care without cost sharing. In other words, plans cannot charge patients copayments, coinsurance, or […]

Government Issues Health Care Reform Regulations on ‘Grandfathered’ Plans

On June 14, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Treasury issued new regulations addressing grandfathered plans under health care reform and how such plans can keep their grandfathered status. Although the new health care reform legislation (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability […]

Early Retirement Program’s Launch Date Moved Up

A part of the massive health care reform law aimed at encouraging employers to offer health insurance to early retirees is set to launch June 1. Regulations for the Early Retirement Reinsurance Program were issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on May 4. The program will provide $5 billion for […]

Health Care Reform and Workers’ Compensation

by Donald M. Harrison Will health care reform affect workers’ comp? Even though the term “workers’ compensation” isn’t mentioned in the bill, I anticipate both direct and indirect effects on workers’ comp. Most of the consequences are unknown at this time and may not be known for several years, but two direct results are already […]