WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives next week will vote on legislation that would kill a health care reform law provision to establish a voluntary long-term care program, House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday.
“Next week, we will repeal the CLASS Act,” the Ohio Republican said during an address before the National Assn. of Health Underwriters conference in Washington. CLASS is the acronym for the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, which was incorporated in the 2010 health care reform law.“Let’s get it off the books,” Speaker Boehner said of the program.Earlier this month, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the bill, H.R. 1173, to kill the program, implementation of which the Obama administration suspended in October as being unworkable.Administration officials said the program would have been unworkable because of its voluntary nature, with massive adverse selection that would have sent health care premiums spiraling.Turning to the health care reform law, which he strongly opposes, Speaker Boehner said its costs ultimately will bankrupt the country.“It will ruin” what has been the world’s best health care system, he said.He noted that the law is transferring to government from consumers health care coverage decisions. As an example, he cited a requirement that will require many health care plan sponsors—including those opposed for religious reasons—to offer coverage for contraceptives.Speaker Boehner did not address the bill’s prospects of passage in the Senate.
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
IRS Issues Additional Guidance on W2 Reporting
WASHINGTON—Newly released Internal Revenue Service guidance resolves additional questions employers have raised about a health care reform law provision that will require them to report the cost of health care coverage on employees' W-2 wage and income statements.
Under that requirement, health care cost information will have to be reported on 2012 W-2s, which will be issued in 2013. Under previous IRS guidance, smaller employers—those that distribute fewer than 250 W-2s in 2011—are exempt from this requirement until at least 2014 and possibly longer.
Some exemptions to reporting rule
The latest guidance, released Tuesday, makes clear that employers can—but are not required to—report contributions to health reimbursement arrangements in calculating health care costs.
In addition, the cost of providing coverage through employee assistance programs, wellness programs or on-site medical clinics is not required to be reported if the employer does not charge premiums for the coverage to COBRA beneficiaries.
The guidance also clarifies that the reporting requirement does not apply to Indian Tribal governments.
In all, “This is very helpful guidance,” said Anne Waidmann, a director with PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. in Washington.
The latest guidance also reiterates numerous provisions in last year’s guidance, including that that the cost of coverage that is taxable to employees, such as for a child over age 26, must be reported on the W-2, and that contributions employees make to flexible spending accounts are to be excluded from the health care cost figure.
To view the
Under that requirement, health care cost information will have to be reported on 2012 W-2s, which will be issued in 2013. Under previous IRS guidance, smaller employers—those that distribute fewer than 250 W-2s in 2011—are exempt from this requirement until at least 2014 and possibly longer.
Some exemptions to reporting rule
The latest guidance, released Tuesday, makes clear that employers can—but are not required to—report contributions to health reimbursement arrangements in calculating health care costs.
In addition, the cost of providing coverage through employee assistance programs, wellness programs or on-site medical clinics is not required to be reported if the employer does not charge premiums for the coverage to COBRA beneficiaries.
The guidance also clarifies that the reporting requirement does not apply to Indian Tribal governments.
In all, “This is very helpful guidance,” said Anne Waidmann, a director with PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. in Washington.
The latest guidance also reiterates numerous provisions in last year’s guidance, including that that the cost of coverage that is taxable to employees, such as for a child over age 26, must be reported on the W-2, and that contributions employees make to flexible spending accounts are to be excluded from the health care cost figure.
To view the
Monday, December 19, 2011
Supreme Court sets oral arguments on health care reform law
WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court has set aside three days at the end of March to hear oral arguments in lawsuits challenging the legality of the health care reform law.
The court announced Monday that it will hear five and a half hours of arguments over three days.
On March 26, the justices will hear arguments on whether a challenge to the law's individual mandate that requires individuals to enroll in a qualified plan or pay a financial penalty can be imposed before the provision's January 2014 effective date.
On March 27, the court will hear arguments on whether the individual mandate is constitutional.
On March 28, the court will hear arguments on whether the entire law can stand if the individual mandate were to be found unconstitutional.
A ruling is expected by the end of the court's term in June.
The high court in November agreed to review the legality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
To view the entire article click here.
The court announced Monday that it will hear five and a half hours of arguments over three days.
On March 26, the justices will hear arguments on whether a challenge to the law's individual mandate that requires individuals to enroll in a qualified plan or pay a financial penalty can be imposed before the provision's January 2014 effective date.
On March 27, the court will hear arguments on whether the individual mandate is constitutional.
On March 28, the court will hear arguments on whether the entire law can stand if the individual mandate were to be found unconstitutional.
A ruling is expected by the end of the court's term in June.
The high court in November agreed to review the legality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
To view the entire article click here.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Supreme Court takes up challenge to health care reform law
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge to President Barack Obama's sweeping health care reform law, the court announced Monday.
Oral arguments will likely be held in late February or March, with a ruling by June.
A key issue to be considered by the high court's nine justices is whether the "individual mandate" section of the law -- requiring nearly all Americans to buy health insurance by 2014 or face financial penalties -- is an improper exercise of federal authority.
Various states have argued that if that linchpin provision is found unconstitutional, the entire law will have to be scrapped.
To view the entire article click here
Oral arguments will likely be held in late February or March, with a ruling by June.
A key issue to be considered by the high court's nine justices is whether the "individual mandate" section of the law -- requiring nearly all Americans to buy health insurance by 2014 or face financial penalties -- is an improper exercise of federal authority.
Various states have argued that if that linchpin provision is found unconstitutional, the entire law will have to be scrapped.
To view the entire article click here
Friday, October 14, 2011
CLASS Program Axed by Obama Administration
The Obama administration announced today it will not move forward with a new long-term care insurance plan -- a major part of its health care law -- because of problems with paying for it.
"Despite our best analytical efforts, I do not see a viable path forward," wrote Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a letter to Congress.
Congressional Republicans had vowed to kill the program, calling the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program (CLASS) too expensive.
Some Republicans have vowed to try and repeal the entire Obama health care law, calling it too much of a government intrusion into the health care system.
A key part of the law -- the requirement that nearly all Americans buy some form of health insurance -- is also being challenged in court; the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the case next summer.
For the entire article click here
"Despite our best analytical efforts, I do not see a viable path forward," wrote Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a letter to Congress.
Congressional Republicans had vowed to kill the program, calling the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program (CLASS) too expensive.
Some Republicans have vowed to try and repeal the entire Obama health care law, calling it too much of a government intrusion into the health care system.
A key part of the law -- the requirement that nearly all Americans buy some form of health insurance -- is also being challenged in court; the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the case next summer.
For the entire article click here
Thursday, September 29, 2011
U.S. health benefits recommendations coming October 7
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A key recommendation for medical coverage standards under President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul will be released on October 7, according to the organization preparing the report.
The Department of Health and Human Services has asked the influential Institute of Medicine, an independent agency in Washington, to recommend how HHS should determine the basic health benefits for millions of Americans who will qualify for coverage sold through insurance exchanges beginning in 2014.
IOM spokeswoman Christine Stencel on Thursday said the agency will release the report on October 7, just a week later than the self-imposed deadline of the end of September.
Stencel has previously told Reuters that IOM will not produce specific benefits standards for the exchanges. Instead, the group is working toward recommendations on criteria and methods that would allow HHS to determine and update the essential health benefits package.
The findings will inform the final HHS decision expected by the end of the year. HHS has been subject to intense lobbying over which health services should be mandated by the government.
To view the entire article click here.
The Department of Health and Human Services has asked the influential Institute of Medicine, an independent agency in Washington, to recommend how HHS should determine the basic health benefits for millions of Americans who will qualify for coverage sold through insurance exchanges beginning in 2014.
IOM spokeswoman Christine Stencel on Thursday said the agency will release the report on October 7, just a week later than the self-imposed deadline of the end of September.
Stencel has previously told Reuters that IOM will not produce specific benefits standards for the exchanges. Instead, the group is working toward recommendations on criteria and methods that would allow HHS to determine and update the essential health benefits package.
The findings will inform the final HHS decision expected by the end of the year. HHS has been subject to intense lobbying over which health services should be mandated by the government.
To view the entire article click here.
White House, health reform opponents ask Supreme Court to review law
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Twenty-six states and a small business group appealed Wednesday to the Supreme Court seeking to strike down all of President Obama's signature health care law, while the administration defended it.
The states and National Federation of Independent Business argued the entire law should be invalidated because Congress exceeded its powers requiring that Americans buy health insurance or face a penalty.
They urged the high court to quickly decide the issue in its upcoming term, which begins next week and lasts through June 2012.
The Obama administration filed its own appeal in which the Justice Department argued the so-called individual mandate was constitutional and said the issue was appropriate for Supreme Court review.
“Throughout history, there have been similar challenges to other landmark legislation such as the Social Security Act, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act, and all of those challenges failed,” the Justice Department said.
“We believe the challenges to Affordable Care Act…will also ultimately fail and that the Supreme Court will uphold the law,” the department said in a statement.
White House adviser Stephanie Cutter said the administration asked the Supreme Court to hear the case “so that we can put these challenges to rest and continue moving forward implementing the law to lower the cost of health care and make it more secure for all Americans.”
At issue was a ruling by a U.S. appeals court in Atlanta in August that declared unconstitutional the individual insurance requirement but refused to strike down the entire law.
The ruling by the appeals court in Atlanta conflicted with rulings by other appeals courts that have upheld the law or have rejected legal challenges, including a lawsuit by the state of Virginia that was dismissed earlier this month on procedural grounds.
The law, passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in 2010 after a bruising political battle, is expected to be a major issue in the 2012 elections as Obama seeks another four-year term. Republican presidential candidates oppose it.
The Supreme Court long has been expected to have the final word on the law's constitutionality. The dispute has important legal, political and financial implications for companies in the health care field.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said the states sought Supreme Court review of their lawsuit.
“This health care law is an affront on Americans' individual liberty, and we will not allow the federal government to violate our constitutional rights,” she said.
Legal experts have said the nine member Supreme Court, with a conservative majority and four liberals, most likely will be closely divided on whether the individual mandate requiring insurance purchases exceeded the power of Congress.
The Obama administration earlier this week said it decided against asking the full U.S. Appeals Court for the 11th Circuit to review the August ruling by a three-judge panel of the court that found the insurance requirement unconstitutional.
That decision cleared the way for the administration to go to the Supreme Court.
The states in their appeal also argued the law's expansion of Medicaid, a federal-state partnership that provides health care to low-income Americans, was unconstitutionally coercive, forced upon the states.
The states and National Federation of Independent Business argued the entire law should be invalidated because Congress exceeded its powers requiring that Americans buy health insurance or face a penalty.
They urged the high court to quickly decide the issue in its upcoming term, which begins next week and lasts through June 2012.
The Obama administration filed its own appeal in which the Justice Department argued the so-called individual mandate was constitutional and said the issue was appropriate for Supreme Court review.
“Throughout history, there have been similar challenges to other landmark legislation such as the Social Security Act, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act, and all of those challenges failed,” the Justice Department said.
“We believe the challenges to Affordable Care Act…will also ultimately fail and that the Supreme Court will uphold the law,” the department said in a statement.
White House adviser Stephanie Cutter said the administration asked the Supreme Court to hear the case “so that we can put these challenges to rest and continue moving forward implementing the law to lower the cost of health care and make it more secure for all Americans.”
At issue was a ruling by a U.S. appeals court in Atlanta in August that declared unconstitutional the individual insurance requirement but refused to strike down the entire law.
The ruling by the appeals court in Atlanta conflicted with rulings by other appeals courts that have upheld the law or have rejected legal challenges, including a lawsuit by the state of Virginia that was dismissed earlier this month on procedural grounds.
The law, passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in 2010 after a bruising political battle, is expected to be a major issue in the 2012 elections as Obama seeks another four-year term. Republican presidential candidates oppose it.
The Supreme Court long has been expected to have the final word on the law's constitutionality. The dispute has important legal, political and financial implications for companies in the health care field.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said the states sought Supreme Court review of their lawsuit.
“This health care law is an affront on Americans' individual liberty, and we will not allow the federal government to violate our constitutional rights,” she said.
Legal experts have said the nine member Supreme Court, with a conservative majority and four liberals, most likely will be closely divided on whether the individual mandate requiring insurance purchases exceeded the power of Congress.
The Obama administration earlier this week said it decided against asking the full U.S. Appeals Court for the 11th Circuit to review the August ruling by a three-judge panel of the court that found the insurance requirement unconstitutional.
That decision cleared the way for the administration to go to the Supreme Court.
The states in their appeal also argued the law's expansion of Medicaid, a federal-state partnership that provides health care to low-income Americans, was unconstitutionally coercive, forced upon the states.
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