NAHU Washington Update - 12/08/2017  (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
•  Fast Facts
•  House and Senate Begin Conference on Tax Reform
•  Medical Loss Ratio Broker Bill Reintroduced in the House, Senate Companion Forthcoming
•  Compliance Cornered: ACA Employer Reporting Penalties Increase for 2018
•  Washington Update Podcast: Mending Differences on the Road to Tax Reform
•  One Week Left for Open Enrollment
•  Did You Miss Yesterday’s Compliance Corner Webinar on How to Respond to the IRS 226J Letter? Watch it Now!
•  Gift Yourself Capitol Conference and HUPAC Bowling this Holiday Season
•  Holiday Savings!
•  HUPAC Roundup
•  What We're Reading

Fast Facts

• The Senate voted 51-49 early last Saturday to advance their tax reform plan. It is now being conferenced between House and Senate members, with the goal of passing a final version in the next two weeks.

• Representatives Billy Long (R-MO) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) introduced H.R. 4575, a bill to exclude broker commissions from the medical loss ratio. A Senate companion is forthcoming.

• HHS Secretary Nominee Alex Azar is expected to face a confirmation hearing in the Senate Finance Committee the week of December 18. If advanced, he will need at least 50 votes to be confirmed by the full Senate.

• The House voted 235-193 and the Senate voted 81-14 to approve a two-week continuing resolution through December 22 that also included a limited short-term patch for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

• Negotiations are continuing over a longer-term funding bill that may include market stability measures, including temporary funding of the ACA’s Cost-sharing reduction program.