|
Announcing Extended Hours for the Health Plan Options Department As we get closer March 31st and the close of the Initial Annual Enrollment Period for Individual health both on and off the exchange, we are announcing extended hours for your convenience. URL’s Case Managers will be available to assist with your submissions so you can secure the desired effective date. The extended hour schedule is:
HIGHMARK INC, is Changing how Providers are Paid for Oncology Care Highmark Inc. is taking steps to make sure that its members in western Pennsylvania do not pay more than they need to for cancer treatment. Today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette features an editorial by Donald R. Fischer, MD , Highmark's Chief Medical Officer. In this piece, Dr. Fischer addresses the lack of correlation between health care cost and quality, particularly in relation to infusion chemotherapy drugs . Click here to read more.
Highmark Channel Insights Welcome to the January/February edition of our electronic newsletter Channel Insights - News for the Producer Community. Inside you will find valuable information to help you successfully serve your customers and grow your Highmark book of business. Subsidy Suits Still Not Over This week a federal judge in Virginia ruled in favor of the Obama Administration with regard to the issue of distributing exchange-based subsidies. This decision comes closely on the heels of another one last month, when a D.C. federal court ruled that, despite unclear legislative language, the federal government does indeed have the authority to grant subsidies to lower income Americans to help them purchase private health insurance coverage in both federally facilitated and state-run exchanges due to the health reform law. Click here to read more. New Rules on 90-Day Wait On Thursday, February 20, the Obama Administration released new rules from the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services regarding the health reform law’s ban on employer plan waiting periods that exceed 90 days. Click here to read more.
Understanding Payroll Fundamentals to Effectively Manage PPACA Compliance You might be asking the question to yourself right now - How does payroll administration help employers play a role in the compliance requirements of ACA? The data housed in payroll is powerful, and if used effectively, can vastly reduce the burden of these new requirements. Click here to read more. Weekly PPACA Update Conference Call We recognize that many of you have questions that need answered in regards to the PPACA Law (Obamacare) and the opening of the Marketplaces on 10-1-2013. So, in a continuing effort to assist our agent-partners in getting the information they need to flourish within the under 65 group and individual health market, we are implementing a weekly telephone conference that will serve as a place to get your questions answered and discuss topics that will lead to your continued success in the health insurance market. Click here to register. Weekly PPACA Conference Call Archives Click here to view the archived recordings of the PPACA Conference Calls.
Health Agents Head to Washington Members of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) are focusing their persuasive skills on policymakers on Capitol Hill this week. NAHU has brought about 900 agents and brokers to Washington for its 24th annual Capitol Conference. Click here to read more. IRS Enforcement of 'Individual Mandate' May Be Light One of the most debated parts of the health care law is the requirement that most Americans buy insurance starting this year. If they don’t, they face a fine of $95 or 1 percent of their income, whichever is more. Click here to read more.
| |||||
