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Health Care Reform
With the passage of the Patient Care and Affordable Care Act earlier this year, our government has officially enacted reform of hundreds of regulations over employers who provide health care benefits, insurance companies who sponsor these plans and individuals who have previously not had affordable access to either. At Valley Forge Benefits Consulting, we are committed to guiding our clients through the process of implementing the applicable components of reform regulations.
Each month, as the Department of Health and Human Services issues more details and guidelines for various aspects of this bill, we will ensure our clients understand the effects on their plans. We communicate the changes as well as timeline for these changes, and assist with enacting the most successful strategy to not only remain compliant with the reform, but to maintain benefit plan affordability and sustainability for both the employer and the employees in the future.
DOL Delays Uniform Summary of Benefits
Department of Labor announces a delay in the implementation of the new Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) rulesMORE »
Sixth Circuit Upholds Constitutionality of Health Care Law
Finding that Congress properly exercised its legislative power under the Constitution’s Commerce Clause in enacting the Affordable Care Act’s minimum coverage provision – commonly referred to as the Act’s “individual mandate” to purchase health insurance – the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a lower court’s determination that the health care law is constitutional.MORE »
Rate Increase Disclosure and Review - Final Rule Issued
U.S. health insurers seeking rate increases in excess of 10% or more for individual or small groups will faced increase scrutinyMORE »
Technical Release 2011-28
Clarification on the requirement to report the cost of group health insurance coverageMORE »
Technical Release 2011-01
Extension of non-enforcement period relating to certain interim procedures for internal claims and appeals under PPACAMORE »
Deadline for 2011 Plan Amendments Fast Approaching
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) required that formal plan amendments be in place by June 30, 2011 for some of the group health plan changes that went into effect on January 1, 2011. The provisions noted below were effective for group health plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010 (generally, effective Jan. 1, 2011, for calendar year plans). Formal plan amendments must be adopted to bring plans into compliance with these requirements:MORE »
November 2010 - Grandfather Provision Amendment
October 2010
EBSA updates web page with FAQs Part IIMORE »
June 2010 Regulation Update
Patient bill of rights;A few days ago, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury issued regulations to implement a new Patient’s Bill of Rights under the Affordable Care Act – which will help children (and eventually all Americans) with pre-existing conditions gain coverage and keep it, protect all Americans’ choice of doctors and end lifetime limits on the care consumers may receive. These new protections apply to nearly all health insurance plans.;How These New Rules Will Help Your EmployeesMORE »
May 2010 Regulation Update
As more pieces of the healthcare reform puzzle come together through the release of the regulations, it is important that you look at both the short term and long term compliance requirements. At Valley Forge Benefits Consulting, we can help develop a strategy to deal with all of the various components of reform. MORE »
April 2010 Regulation Update
Health Care Reform: What you need to know right now. There has been a tremendous amount of dialogue regarding the provisions of the recently passed Patient Care and Affordable Care Act, signed into law last week, along with amendments contained in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation. There are some provisions in the Act that are very clear, with definite implementation deadlines and requirements. Others are still vague and require the actual regulations to be written for clarification.MORE »