Over the course of the past few months, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), both of which are divisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Care Reform Dashboard
Charting Developments with the Affordable Care Act and Beyond
The Health Care Reform Dashboard, published by Ballard Spahr LLP, focuses on legal developments and regulatory updates related to health care reform. It covers topics such as changes to health savings accounts (HSAs), Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements, fiduciary duties in health plan offerings, pharmacy benefit management (PBM) regulations, and enforcement of No Surprises Act provisions. The blog analyzes court decisions, administrative guidance, and legislative changes affecting group health plans, employer obligations, and health insurance market rules. It serves as a resource for understanding the legal landscape impacting health benefits, compliance, and health care policy implementation.
Latest from Health Care Reform Dashboard - Page 3
Final Section 1557 Rules: Highlights for Health Plan Sponsors
Summary
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued final regulations on the nondiscrimination rules set forth in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. The new rules apply to certain group health plans, as well as…
Final Rules Overturn Trump Era Health Benefit Rules
Summary
The Biden administration has issued two sets of final regulations that overturn rules adopted during the Trump administration pertaining to association health plans and short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI). The regulations go into effect June 17, 2024.
The Upshot
- The
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HHS Aligns Part 2 Substance Use Disorder Confidentiality Requirements with HIPAA
Summary
Newly effective regulations governing confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) records now more closely mirror regulations implementing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and other federal law. The new measures ease the administrative burden on…
HIPAA Breach Notifications – A Question of Timing
Summary
Providing notice of a vendor’s HIPAA breach is often difficult, but it can be particularly hard when information is delayed. Sometimes an investigation takes months to complete, and the HIPAA deadline for providing notice may have passed before a…
HHS Announces Temporary Copay Accumulator Non-Enforcement Policy
Summary
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has filed court pleadings stating that it does not intend to initiate enforcement actions against plans that maintain copay accumulator programs.
The Upshot
- A recent district court opinion invalidated
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No Surprises, But Much Uncertainty: The Status of CAA Billing Rules
Summary
The rules in the Consolidated Appropriations Act that aim to eliminate much of the surprise from billings by out-of-network providers in particular situations are the subject of continued controversy.
The Upshot
- Health care providers have successfully challenged a number
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Prescription for Chaos: Copay Accumulator Programs Called Into Question
Summary
Employers taking advantage of copay accumulator programs now face unexpected administrative complications following a recent federal court decision.
The Upshot
- The District Court for the District of Columbia’s decision in HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute v. Department of Health and
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Details Upon Details: Compliance under MHPAEA’s New Proposed Regulations
Summary
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury have proposed regulations under the Mental Health Parity Act that build on prior guidance to set forth requirements for an extremely detailed analysis of how a health plan’s…
New Mental Health Parity Guidance Issued
Summary
On July 25, 2023, the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health & Human Services (the Departments) released joint proposed regulations and other guidance under the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008…