|
|
|
|
|
Senate Continues Hearings on Market Stability with Goal of Introducing Bipartisan Legislation this Month
|
|
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and Finance Committees continued their hearings this week on ways to improve market stability ahead of the 2018 plan year. The hearings showed increasing support for finding a compromise between Democrats and Republicans that would allow for the ACA's cost sharing reduction (CSR) payments and provide for additional flexibility for states to implement the law. One of the suggestions was to have a pre-approved slate of possible changes under the ACA's Section 1332 Waiver program for states to select from that could be quickly implemented, while HELP Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) suggested that they should also consider easing federal benefit design rules so that states can better tailor plans to the needs of their population. Read More
|
|
Graham-Cassidy Plan Introduced as Potentially the Final Attempt to Repeal and Replace the ACA
|
|
Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) released their ACA repeal/replace plan on Wednesday, a $1.2 trillion legislative package that would reconfigure the ACA and give more power to states to implement health reform. They were also joined by Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) as original co-sponsors, along with former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) as a surrogate of the proposal. Their bill could be the final attempt at passing a reconciliation repeal/replace of the ACA before that vehicle expires at the end of the month. The legislation is currently under review by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the outcome of which will likely dictate whether there would be enough votes in the Senate for passage under reconciliation... Read More
|
|
House and Senate Reintroduce Legislation to Change the ACA's 30-Hour Workweek Rule to 40-Hours
|
|
On Tuesday, Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) introduced S. 1782, and on Thursday Representatives Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) introduced H.R. 3798, the Forty Hours is Full Time Act. This is the third iteration of the legislation, after having been introduced in both the 113th and 114th Congress and not received consideration on the Senate floor. The House version from the last session of Congress, H.R. 40, was passed out of the chamber almost immediately after the session was called to order, but quickly hit a roadblock in the Senate where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) opted not to bring it up due to the lack of votes for passage. The legislation still faces some of the same challenges as it did in previous sessions of Congress, but because a full repeal/replace of the ACA has not occurred and is not expected to happen anytime soon, moderate members from both parties may be more willing to support the bill... Read More
|
|
Single Payer Bill is Introduced with Record 16 Co-Sponsors
|
|
On Wednesday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-D-VT) introduced S. 1804, the "Medicare for All" bill, and was joined by 16 original co-sponsors from Democratic Senators Tammy Baldwin (WI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Cory Booker (NJ), Al Franken (MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Kamala Harris (CA), Martin Heinrich (NM), Mazie Hirono (HI), Pat Leahy (VT), Ed Markey (MA), Jeff Merkley (OR), Brian Schatz (HI), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Tom Udall (NM), Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (RI). In addition to this bill, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) is planning to introduce similar legislation that would allow individuals to buy into Medicare... Read More
|
|
It's Bills, Bills, Bills - And Hearings - on this Week's Podcast
|
|
A flurry of legislation of interest to NAHU was introduced this week, from changing the definition of full-time from 30 hours to 40 hours, to the newest attempt at repealing and replacing the ACA, to legislation for single-payer healthcare. You may be wondering why the sudden rush of bills all at once, or will any of these actually pass, and if so, what should I know for my clients? To help you make sense of this crazy week in Congress, check out our 30-minute podcast with Vice Presidents of Congressional Affairs John Greene and Chris Hartmann and Vice President of Government Affairs Marcy M. Buckner. They debrief what was included in these bills, how they might be different from any previous versions, and what they mean in the context of overall healthcare reform efforts, including the hearings held this week. To listen to the podcast, click here... Read More
|
|
Check Out the Newly Redesigned NAHU Website!
|
|
NAHU is thrilled to announce the launch of our redesigned website, featuring a fresh layout with improved navigation and functionality for the ultimate user-friendly experience. Designed with you in mind, the site's seamless navigation and many new features help you to quickly and easily navigate all of NAHU's benefits and resources, such as the compliance training tools and find an agent feature, and to help you stay informed on NAHU initiatives. You can also now search content through tags, author, type and date as well as share content on your social media platforms directly from the website. We encourage you to visit www.nahu.org and share the new website on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Additionally, feel free to review our FAQs to assist in navigating the website... Read More
|
|
Register Now for Next Week's Compliance Corner Webinar: Understanding Medicare Interactions with Group Insurance
|
|
The baby boomer generation is rapidly approaching Medicare eligibility age with 10,000 new enrollees every day. But many who are approaching eligibility are increasingly delaying retirement and keeping their existing insurance coverage. Join us on Thursday, September 21, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern for a NAHU member-exclusive Compliance Corner webinar to explore many of these issues in an advanced session on the interaction of Medicare with group insurance. Hosted by The Brokerage Inc. President Mike Smith and Savoy Associates Chief Compliance Officer Joan Fusco, this session will discuss Medicare in relation to... Read More
|
|
Get Ready for Fall by Completing your Annual Marketplace Training
|
|
All agents and brokers must complete the federal marketplace registration and training in order to assist consumers with enrollment through HealthCare.gov beginning on November 1. NAHU members are encouraged to become certified through NAHU's federal marketplace agent and broker training program, the only program operated by an agent/broker association. Offered through NAHU's Online Learning Institute, our course includes webinar modules, a final exam, the ability to access our live help desk by phone or email to receive real-time assistance with technical questions, and the opportunity to earn continuing education (CE) credits issued on a state-by-state basis... Read More
|
|
HUPAC Roundup
|
|
Familiar faces have started appearing in the media as the 2018 elections near. Tim Kaine is making a comeback to the scene since his loss to the Republican ticket as Hilary Clinton's running mate. Kaine cannot seem to shake off the stigma among some Democrats as being part of the ticket that lost to Trump. The 2016 presidential election has been the only election that he's ever lost in his political career, despite winning the popular vote, and he will once again be running against Trump and his policies... Read More
|
|
What We're Reading
|
|
Our thoughts remain with our NAHU family in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida who are dealing with the effects of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. We encourage members to contribute gift cards for those affected through the NAHU UNITE program (details below), which coordinates interim and short-term financial support and relief efforts to help sustain NAHU members until more permanent funding becomes available... Read More
|
|
|
|
