Healthcare reform

FSA proponents press lawmakers for changes to PPACA provisions

The Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC) is fighting to repeal parts of the health care reform law that establish annual caps for flexible spending arrangements and require a prescription for over-the-counter medications to be reimbursed under FSAs. It also is pushing for a change to allow for a cash-out at the end of the year in place of the use-it-or-lose-it system that dates back to the 1980s.

By Kathleen Koster
Freelance Writer

Actuary group suggests Rx for individual mandate

The American Academy of Actuaries has recommended a number of policy options to strengthen and improve the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate clause, regardless of whether the landmark law’s controversial centerpiece is legally removed over time.

Bruce Shutan
By Bruce Shutan
Contributing writer

CMS issues proposed ACO rule

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a proposed rule March 31 that establishes the Medicare Shared Savings Program authorized in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

By Joseph Goedert
Senior Editor
Health Data Management

Solving the PPACA puzzle: Is stop-loss the answer?

In this post-health care reform environment, benefit advisers – and their employer clients – face a new world order. For instance, with new restrictions on capping lifetime maximum benefits, the burden of managing the potential financial risk posed by even one employee's catastrophic illness looms large.

Are you in or are you out?

HighRoads, a Boston-based compliance and benefits management firm, conducted a survey months after approval of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, finding that, in general, employers believed that outsourcing costs for health benefits administration will increase because of the law.

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