Employment Law This Week®: DOJ’s New Stance on Title VII, ACA Contraception Mandate, SCOTUS Hears Class-Action Waiver Arguments, RI’s Paid Sick Leave Policy
The courts continue to play an important role in health policy. 2020 saw several notable lawsuits related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Several other Trump administration policies were challenged, including Medicare...more
2019 saw court hearings of a number of cases related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Several other Trump administration policies were also challenged, including Medicare payment policies, price transparency, how the...more
In 2016, the National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsed three contraceptive care quality measures to assess the degree to which women access effective methods of contraception. This endorsement is an important milestone in quality...more
New repeal and replace legislation would shift some decisions on ACA reforms to states; President Trump signs an ACA executive order; and a Kansas legislator introduces a new Medicaid expansion bill....more
CBO estimates 27 million would lose coverage under partial ACA repeal in the first year after elimination of Marketplace subsidies and Medicaid expansion; a federal judge orders delay in submission of North Carolina’s...more
A federal report finds that Marketplace premiums are lower in expansion states; Massachusetts and Pennsylvania launch prescription drug monitoring systems; and Kentucky submits a slightly modified Medicaid expansion waiver to...more
Oklahoma proposes Medicaid coverage for 175,000 currently uninsured; a report finds State-based Marketplaces boost Medicaid enrollment growth rates; and CMS issues a final rule on mental health parity in Medicaid and CHIP....more
Lessons from Hawaii's Trailblazing ACA 1332 Waiver Proposal - Editor's Note: On September 9, Hawaii became the first state to post a draft 1332 waiver proposal for public comment. While Hawaii's proposal focuses on the...more
With the election of a new Governor, the future of Kentucky’s Marketplace and Medicaid expansion is uncertain; CMS questions Iowa on its Medicaid managed care transition timeline; and the Supreme Court agrees to hear a case...more
Ways & Means Leadership Changes – Health Policy Implications Looming: As Congress pushes forward with a two-year budget deal, and new Speaker Paul Ryan begins his tenure as the top Republican in the House of...more
The Massachusetts Marketplace takes steps to ease consumer confusion by reducing choice among QHPs; North Carolina appears poised to pass Medicaid reform legislation; and bipartisan support is gaining for defining businesses...more
In quick succession, governors in Alaska and Utah announce Medicaid expansions this week; Iowa is transitioning its expansion away from the Marketplace to Medicaid managed care, for now; and, HHS extends its exception to...more
In This Issue: - Recent Mandatory APMs Signal Evolution in Delivery Reform Efforts - Implementation of the Affordable Care Act - Federal Regulatory Initiatives - Congressional Initiatives - Upcoming...more
Ohio passes a budget mandating that the State request a waiver to implement Medicaid Health Savings Accounts; in Nevada, Marketplace enrollees who experienced technical difficulty obtaining coverage are eligible for a...more
In This Issue: - First Guidance following Hobby Lobby released - Implementation of the Affordable Care Act - Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives - Other Congressional and State Initiatives ...more
On June 30, in one of the most highly anticipated cases affecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Supreme Court ruled that closely held companies could assert a “religious objection” to the ACA contraceptive coverage...more
In This Issue: - Hobby Lobby decision further complicates ACA implementation - Implementation of the Affordable Care Act - Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives - Other Congressional and State...more
Though Congress was in recess this past week, congressional staff was hard at work continuing to consider ways to prevent a cut to Medicare providers’ payment rates that will be triggered by the sustainable growth rate...more
With a week until a potential government shutdown and a week until open enrollment begins, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is in the limelight. On September 20, the House voted for a continuing resolution that funds the...more
In This Issue: - Top News ..Obama Administration Delays Employer Mandate One Year ..House Energy and Commerce Committee Releases Draft Legislation for SGR Fix ..CMS Proposes Payment Changes for Medicare...more
The Obama administration announced yesterday it was delaying the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Employer Mandate, which requires employers with 50 or more full-time workers to provide affordable health insurance to its employees...more
In this Issue: - Top News ..Large Hospital Systems Settles for $25.5 Million for False Claims Act Allegations ..Catholics’ Challenge to Contraceptive Coverage Mandate Dismissed As Not Ripe - States...more
In This Issue: Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA); Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearings and Mark-Ups Scheduled. ...more
In This Issue: Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearings and Mark-Ups Scheduled. Excerpt...more
In This Issue: - Top News ..CMS Announces Round 2 Competitive Bidding Single Payment Amounts ..CBO Lowers SGR Repeal Cost by $100 Billion ..Republicans Press HRSA on 340B Audits ..HHS Proposes...more