A Question From Vince Phillips
In early February, the PA House Insurance Committee is planning a hearing on how to increase transparency in prescription drug prices. Do brokers feel that this is a desirable goal and if so, how can that be achieved? Submit your answer.
LEG REG REVIEW 2017, 1st Issue | January 3, 2017
This week the PA General Assembly kicks off the 2017-18 legislative session with ceremony, prayers, election of Speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), and election of Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson). Read more.
LEG REG REVIEW 2017, 2d Issue | January 9, 2017
Speaker of the House Mike Turzai announced chairs of the various House committees. Read more.
LEG REG REVIEW 2017, 3d Issue | January 16, 2017
On January 23, the General Assembly resumes work. It will be in session January 23, 24, 25 and February 6, 7, 8, then recessing for five weeks during which times the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will be hearing testimony from agency heads to explain Governor Wolf’s Budget request for their agencies. Read more.
LEG REG REVIEW 2017, 4th Issue | January 23, 2017
Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) announced that a special election will be held March 21 to fill the vacant Philadelphia House seat formerly held by Rep. Leslie Acosta before her conviction. Read more.
UPMC Inside Advantage is back!
UPMC Inside Advantage, currently offered only as a renewal option, will once again be available for new business quoting with March 1 effective dates. Read more.
Highmark Agency Action Alert - 1095 Tax Forms For 2016 Plan Year
Highmark would like to remind agents that 1095 tax forms will be issued to customers from the sources listed here. Read more.
Highmark Agency Action Alert - January 19, 2017
Find a Doctor Provider Directory Changes, Minimum Essential Coverage Reporting Updates, Individual Market Update, Highmark 2017 FFM Certification Requirement Reminder, Proposed Short Term Blue Product Discontinuation. Read more.
Highmark Agency Action Alert - Minimum Essential Coverage Reporting - Updated Link
The due date for providing 1095-b forms to members for the 2016 tax year is March 2, 2017. Highmark will mail 1095-b forms to members in late February. Read more.
Highmark Agency Action Alert - Allegheny Health Network Same-Day Appointments
Allegheny Health Network (AHN) is introducing a new experience for patients who are seeking primary and specialty care for same-day appointments. Starting January 23, patients who call AHN by 11:00 AM requesting care will be offered an appointment for that same afternoon. Read more.
Capital BlueCross Medical Loss Ratio Questionnaire Update
The Medical Loss Ratio Questionnaire (C-424) has been updated to reflect 2016/2017 information from the group. Read more.
Important Capital BlueCross Member Reporting Deadline
Details about reporting for covered members calendar year 2016 - affordable care act. Read more.
Product Information
Get applications, brochures, and more for group and individual health on our website. Get product information.
Judge cites 'serious concerns,' blocks Aetna's merger with Humana
A federal judge in Washington today blocked Aetna Inc.'s proposed $37 billion acquisition of Humana, punctuating an era of antitrust enforcement under the Obama administration that broke up merger deals in a host of industries. Read more.
State officials push to keep Medicaid expansion
With major changes to the nation's health care system coming at the federal level, state officials are pressing to save Medicaid expansion, warning that its end would exact personal and financial costs on Pennsylvania. Read more.
6 ACA individual mandate replacement ideas
A critic of the Affordable Care Act says the ACA individual coverage mandate works especially poorly and ought to be replaced. Read more.
Math geniuses size up 5 ACA change ideas
Some Affordable Care Act change proposals that sound good on paper might jack up claims, chase customers away, or cause other unexpected problems. Read more.
5 ways Trumpcare is likely to change employee benefits
Post-election, I have met with dozens of employers and the No. 1 question on their mind is: What will the new administration do to our healthcare strategy and what steps do I take to correctly position my employee benefit program? Read more.
Advocates warn of damage from ACA repeal
Advocates are continuing to push data highlighting potential dangers in repealing the Affordable Care Act without having a replacement ready, even as the Trump administration takes steps to roll back the controversial law and enact an alternative. Read more.
Trump signs ACA burden relief executive order
President Trump started his presidency by signing an executive order that seeks to minimize any burdens caused by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Read more.
Trump may end ACA insurance requirement, Conway says
The Trump administration may stop enforcing the Affordable Care Act requirement that most Americans carry health insurance even before Congress repeals the law, Kellyanne Conway, a top adviser to the new president, said in interviews broadcast on Sunday. Read more.
President Trump's ACA Executive Order
Just hours after President Trump was sworn into office there was breaking news about the president's executive order (EO), "Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal." Read more.
President Trump's stance on 10 key benefit issues
Where does Donald J. Trump stand on parental leave, minimum wage and other important workplace issues? Here’s what employers need to know. Read more.
Weekly PPACA Update Conference Call
Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act Law in 2010, there has been incredible change in the Individual and Group Health industry with products and in the way they are sold and paid for. In 2017, a new Federal Administration will be in place and even more changes will be ahead of all of us. Because of these inevitable changes and in a continuing effort to keep our agent-partners informed, we are holding weekly webinars. The webinars will serve as a place to get your questions answered, learn about compliance requirements and discuss topics and strategies that will lead to your continued success in the individual and group health insurance markets. Register once for all of the 2016 Weekly PPACA Conference Calls. Register now. Register now.
Weekly PPACA Conference Call Archives
Click here to view the archived recordings of the PPACA Conference Calls.
