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An employer wasn’t liable to a former employee who alleged he was terminated because of a disability, his alcoholism, the 5th Circuit recently decided. Although the appeals court didn’t directly address whether alcoholism qualified as a protected disability when it upheld a New Orleans-based district court ruling, the opinion offers guidance on how employers can […]
In 2016, overall national health spending increased 4.3% following 5.8% growth in 2015, according to a study by the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Following Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage expansion and significant retail prescription drug spending growth in 2014 and 2015, says CMS, healthcare spending growth […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking input on how it can reduce the economic and regulatory burdens of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The request for information (RFI), published June 12 in the Federal Register (82 Fed. Reg. 26885), calls for recommendations on streamlining the ACA’s regulation of the individual and small-group […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a plan to change the way that small businesses enroll in insurance coverage through the federal exchanges.
On April 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final market stabilization rule designed to improve the healthcare marketplace and promote stability.
On April 3, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released final updates to the Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Programs for 2018.
As a firm plan for the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains in limbo, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have responded by issuing a proposed rule for 2018 that outlines reforms “critical to stabilizing the individual and small group health insurance markets to help protect patients,” says CMS.
On December 16, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters final rule and the final Annual Letter to Issuers for 2018. The primary focus of the notice—risk stabilization—complements recent announcements that are meant to improve the risk pool, including actions to address third-party payments of premiums and improve program integrity for […]
The dates when group health plans should begin using the most recently revised summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) template were clarified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in a July 8 Q&A document.
What is the Federally Facilitated Marketplace’s (FFM) 2016 Employer Notice Program that is run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)? It’s important that you know, and we are happy to help you out.