On December 23, 2022, U.S. Congress approved the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA 2023). The healthcare provisions in this act extend the temporary telehealth safe harbor for High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) first-dollar coverage through December 31, 2024. EXTENSION OF THE SAFE HARBOR FOR HDHPS TO COVER TELEHEALTH SERVICES Originally the CARES Act established a [...]
The CARES Act created a temporary safe harbor that allows (but did not require) a HDHP health plan with a health savings account (HSA) to cover telehealth and remote care services prior to the member reaching their plan’s deductible. The CARES Act provision extended the safe harbor for plan years beginning on or before December 31, 2021. Members [...]
On March 10th, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021(ARPA) was passed by both chambers of Congress and is expected to be signed by the President this week. The Act addresses several COVID relief provisions including another round of direct stimulus payments, unemployment compensation payments continuation, COVID-19 vaccine funds, and extension of the paycheck protection [...]
On June 25, 2019, Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Connecticut’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law (CTPFML). Below are some highlights from the new law updated with the most recent developments. Employers were required to begin collecting contributions from employees in January 2021. The new CTPFML program will expand the existing Connecticut Family and Medical Leave [...]
When the independent think tank finds that on average, prices paid to hospitals by younger, healthier policyholders were 100 percent higher than what Medicare would have paid for the same procedures, it’s easy to understand the impact that payment contracts based on what Medicare pays can have on health plan costs. In contrast to traditional [...]
With many patients still worrying about contracting COVID-19 by visiting a doctor or pharmacy, large healthcare organizations are sponsoring ad campaigns encouraging people to return to their medical providers. Print ads, TV commercials and social media ads tell people that returning to their doctor for regular checkups, emergencies or diagnostic tests is not only important, [...]
With nearly 40 million workers laid off or furloughed as a result of the Coronavirus, many organizations have urged Congress to expand COBRA coverage. Most of their concerns are focused on encouraging Congress to subsidize COBRA premiums for these workers so that existing health conditions will not get worse because care is delayed. To date, [...]
In late January 2020, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a public health emergency declaration. Several payment policies and regulatory adjustments are attached to the public health emergency, including the Medicare inpatient 20% add-on payment, Medicaid matching rates, requirements that insurers and health plans cover COVID-19 testing without cost-sharing, and waivers of telehealth restrictions. [...]
To help consumers compare the different features of health benefits and coverage, the Affordable Care Act requires all group health plans and health insurance companies to provide individuals a “summary of benefits and coverage” that “accurately describes the benefits and coverage under the plan.” The SBC is a snapshot of a health plan’s costs, benefits, [...]
On June 25, 2019, Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Connecticut’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law (CTPFML). Below are some highlights from the new law updated with the most recent developments. Despite setbacks due to COVID 19 issues, the deadline to begin collecting contributions in 2021 remains intact. The new CTPFML program will expand the [...]
