Featured Wellness Solutions

Spending Resolution Affects ACA Taxes

  • On January 24, 2018
On Jan. 22, 2018, President Donald Trump signed into law a short-term continuing spending resolution to end the government shutdown and continue funding through Feb. 8, 2018. The continuing resolution impacts three taxes and fees under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Specifically, the continuing resolution: Delays implementation of the Cadillac tax on high-cost group health […]
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Health Insurance Regulatory Outlook for 2018

  • On January 12, 2018
Last year there was a lot of uncertainty concerning health insurance coverage since the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) seemed imminent, and no one knew for sure how federal action on health reform would impact markets, consumers, and costs.  While predicting the political future is still impossible, it seems much […]
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Compliance Webinar: 2017 Year in Review

  • On December 18, 2017
2017 was another eventful year for Employee Benefits and Compliance! As lawmakers wrangle over the future of the Affordable Care Act, employers are left wondering what is required of them. This webinar is an opportunity to get ready for 2018 and ensure you are in compliance with the laws and changes for the upcoming year. […]
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IRS Releases Final Employer Reporting Documents

  • On October 13, 2017
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released final 2017 versions of the Form 1094 and 1095 series.  These are the forms you will use in early 2018 to report coverage details to employees and the IRS for the 2017 tax year.  One of the most important things applicable large employers need to know about the upcoming […]
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Trump Administration Releases Interim Final Rules on Contraceptive Coverage and Group Health Insurance Plans

  • On October 13, 2017
On Friday, October 6, 2017, the Trump Administration released two interim final rules that will allow any employer to opt-out of the federal mandate for all non-grandfathered health plans to provide coverage for contraceptives without applying cost-sharing requirements.  One rule establishes how an employer plan can obtain an exemption for religious beliefs, and the other […]
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Federal Actions That Will Impact 2018 Health Plan Rates

  • On October 13, 2017
The most recent Congressional health reform effort failed in late September, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be changes to 2018 benefit plans based on governmental action.  A host of federal policies impacting prices and the calculation of health plan rates will go into effect for the upcoming plan year.  They include a return […]
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White House to End Cost-Sharing Reductions

  • On October 13, 2017
On Oct. 12, 2017, the White House announced that it will no longer reimburse insurers for cost-sharing reductions made available to low-income individuals through the Exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), effective immediately. Because Congress did not pass an appropriation for this expense, the Trump administration has taken the position that it cannot lawfully […]
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President Signs Executive Order Designed to Change ACA Rules

  • On October 13, 2017
On Oct. 12, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to change certain rules under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The order would relax regulations on association health plans. This change could allow individuals and small businesses to purchase health insurance policies across state lines and avoid certain ACA requirements. The executive order […]
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Health Reform Changes On The Back Burner, Focus Now Shifts to Compliance

  • On August 10, 2017
Congress is in recess until September 5th and our federal legislators are shifting efforts to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) to a back burner in favor of other efforts, such as comprehensive tax reform.  While individual opinions about Congress’s inability to move forward on ACA reform may vary, for […]
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Health Reform Update: What Can We Expect Now?

  • On July 31, 2017
The latest Congressional efforts to repeal and replace parts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) failed again last week when the Senate voted 51-49 to reject a measure dubbed the “skinny repeal” bill.  The breakdown of the latest reform attempt not only shows the deep divide among our lawmakers, but it also […]
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Senate Vote Greenlights AHCA Debate

  • On July 26, 2017
On July 25, 2017, members of the U.S. Senate voted 50-50 to open up the American Health Care Act (AHCA) for debate and amendments in the Senate, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote in favor of the measure. The AHCA is the bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) […]
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Senate Health Care Reform Effort: Round Two

  • On July 14, 2017
  Congress is still working on repealing and replacing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Last month, the Senate Republican leadership had to postpone action on the Better Care Reconciliation Act due to a lack of consensus.  Now that the Senators are back from celebrating the 4th of July, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell […]
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Overview of “The Better Care Reconciliation Act”

  • On June 29, 2017
Throughout the month of June, Kistler Tiffany Benefits’ Director of Compliance Services, Scott Wham, J.D., hosted a series of Town Hall meetings for KTB clients. The meetings predominantly focused on the current state of health care reform in light of the proposals presented by congressional Republicans. Due to popular demand, Scott has recorded a comprehensive […]
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Health Reform Moves to the Senate

  • On May 12, 2017
Now that the United States House of Representatives has passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), action on repealing, replacing or repairing the current health reform law has moved to the United States Senate.  Instead of just making changes to the House-passed legislation, the leadership of the upper chamber has made it clear that they […]
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Essential Health Benefits Explained

  • On April 14, 2017
As Congress and President Trump continue efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the law’s mandate that some health plans cover essential health benefits (EHBs) has become a focal point of health reform negotiations. Proponents of eliminating or changing EHBs argue they are artificially driving up the cost of private health insurance […]
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Health Reform Change May Have Slowed Down, but It Has Not Stopped

  • On March 27, 2017
Last week, President Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress halted their immediate efforts to change the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  While we now know that sweeping health policy changes like the elimination of the employer mandate will not occur in the near future, we are hearing that other important health policy actions are still underway.  As […]
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New SBC Template and Glossary Must Be Used Beginning April 1, 2017

  • On March 17, 2017
One ACA requirement for health insurers and employer-sponsored group benefit plans that remains effective is the requirement to provide enrollees and applicants with a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and a uniform glossary of common health plan terms.  The SBC is a short document that explains all of a health plan’s basic coverage terms […]
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Congress and the Trump Administration Begin Work on Federal Health Reform Change

  • On March 17, 2017
Formal work on national health care reform is well underway now that the congressional leadership of the Republican Party has released draft legislation to replace parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Health policy ideas are flying around Washington, DC, and in the news there is a tremendous amount of chatter and speculation about what […]
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House GOP Releases First Draft of Health Reform Repeal/Replace Measure

  • On March 7, 2017
On Monday evening, March 6, 2017 the House Republican leadership unveiled its first official version of legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.  Known as the American Health Care Act, the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees will begin their work on “marking up” the legislation this week. See the […]
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