On June 19, 2018, the Department of Labor (DOL) released a final rule, “Definition of an “Employer” under Section 3(5) of ERISA—Association Health Plans.” The rule is the final version of a proposed rule initially released in January 2018. It creates a new pathway for the formation of association health plans (AHPs) but does retain […]
Read MoreOn January 9, 2017, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Alex Azar II to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). This hearing follows the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee nomination hearing on November 29, 2017. Mr. Azar has been nominated to replace Tom […]
Read MoreOn November 29, 2017, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a courtesy hearing to consider the nomination of Alex Azar as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Mr. Azar has been nominated to replace Tom Price, who resigned as Secretary in late September of this year. […]
Read MoreOn October 17, 2017, the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee held its second hearing in a series of three to discuss the cost of prescription drugs, titled “The Cost of Prescription Drugs: How the Drug Delivery System Affects What Patients Pay, Part II.” The hearings stem from a bipartisan request from Senators […]
Read MoreLate on Thursday, the Trump administration announced that they will end the cost-sharing reductions (CSR) subsidies to plans sold on ACA exchanges. Health insurers selling plans on state and federal exchanges are required to offer plans with reduced deductibles and copayments, and the ACA provides for insurers selling these plans to receive CSR payments to […]
Read MoreOn Tuesday, April 11, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) held their annual National Forum on the Future of Health Care at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. ACS CAN’s President opened by stating that our nation’s health care system was at a clear inflection point, and set the tone for […]
Read MoreThe Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a letter to governors this week that is signed by both Secretary Price and Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The letter outlines their priorities, which largely align with Administrator Verma’s previous work on Medicaid reform efforts in […]
Read MoreToday, the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2016 (S. 3504) was introduced Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch and Ranking Member Ron Wyden along with Senator Johnny Isakson and Senator Mark Warner, co-chairs of the Finance Committee Chronic Care Working Group. The CHRONIC Care Act hopes to […]
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