Simply stated health care

The creation of state-based health insurance exchanges is the magic elixir for what ails healthcare reform. At least that’s what supporters hope.

The Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) released the first of undoubtedly many versions of proposed rules for the insurance exchanges.

If you can’t wait to read the 244 pages, you can download a pdf version here. Continue Reading »

Merriam-Webster defines quality as –

• A degree of excellence
• A distinguishing attribute

The challenge in delivering quality health care is making life and death decisions – literally. Continue Reading »

Are dental and vision plans off the hook for health reform?

The answer – it depends.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act) confused more than one group health plan sponsor. Early assumptions were standalone dental and vision plans were exempt from the Affordable Care Act.

A recent publication by Segal, an employee benefits consulting firm, indicates it’s not that black and white. Continue Reading »

While legislators continue to fight the health reform law, restaurant chains are also feeling the bite. Restaurants?

Yes, section 4205 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (”Affordable Care Act”) set standards for nutritional labeling at chain restaurants and food sold from vending machines. Continue Reading »

Patients waiting for their elective surgery have more than frustration to be concerned about.

A study published in the December 2010 issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons reveals the health risk of delays after admission to the hospital. Continue Reading »

Boomers to Benefit From Health Care Reform

In last week’s news, variations on that theme splashed across several headlines.

A recently released report from the Commonwealth Fund spawned the predictive headlines.

As a card-carrying baby boomer (people born between 1946 and 1964) who has a specialty in health care, the headlines caught my interest. After scanning the articles and the report, here’s my question —

Can Boomers wait for 2014 health care reform? Continue Reading »

The Minimum Essential Coverage provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is unconstitutional.

That was the December 13, 2010 ruling of Judge Henry Hudson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Continue Reading »

It was supposed to allow Americans to keep health plans they loved. For some, the “grandfathered” status of the Health Care Reform Law created more questions than answers.

The “grandfathered” status exempts existing health plans from certain provisions of the law. However, there appeared to be more ways to lose that status than there were pages in the law itself. Employers that sponsor health plans can now remove one way of losing grandfathered status from the list. Continue Reading »

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) did little to boost the confidence of Americans in the health care system. On the other hand, the passing of the health reform law did not decrease confidence. That does not mean everyone is happy.

The 2010 Health Confidence Survey

The 2010 Health Confidence Survey, conducted by Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Mathew Greenwald & Associates, reveals dissatisfaction with our health care system. The survey was conducted a mere two months after the passage of the health reform law. So, the jury is still out.

Here are some of the findings from the survey. Continue Reading »

Thursday, September 23, 2010 marks the 6-month birthday of the new health reform law.

A few party favors are available Thursday, but most are waiting until January 1 when most plan years are effective. Continue Reading »