The Benefits Brief

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NABIP Responds to Mental Health Parity Proposed Rule Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

NABIP submitted a comment letter in response to a proposed rule on mental health parity. Mental health parity and network adequacy in the mental health space has been a prime issue for employers across the country, and NABIP, for several years now. This new proposed rule was issued in early August. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs John Greene is back on the pod to discuss the proposed rule and our comments. Today’s podcast episode covers a portion of our comments. If you are interested in learning more, please read the executive summary and full comment letter on NABIP.org!

Stop-Loss Professionals Discuss Trends in High-Claim Costs and the Tools to Deal with Them Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Over the course of the past decade, the industry has seen a tremendous increase in the sophistication and costs of medical treatment options, including enhanced care of newborns, groundbreaking cancer treatments and pharmaceutical advancements like gene and cell therapies. These have created potentially big wins for patients with challenging diagnoses, but also brought about a continued trend in rising claim costs. As the costs have grown, so has the need to ensure appropriate coverage is in place with a carrier that has the right knowledge, experience and financial stability to help protect each client’s bottom line. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, sponsored by HM Insurance Group, Dan Parker is joined by president of HM Insurance Group’s Mark Lawrence and Eric Berg to discuss the importance of stop-loss coverage amidst this continued trend in rising claim costs. Sponsored by HM Insurance Group.

Optimizing ALE Compliance with ICHRA – A Strategic Guide for Brokers and Agents Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

Health insurance professionals who in the employer market are acutely aware of health reimbursement arrangements, commonly shortened to HRAs, and how they work. However, the world of individual coverage HRAs, or ICHRAs, is a relatively new form coverage that employers and brokers alike are still learning how to utilize effectively. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, sponsored by Remodel Health, NABIP’s Dan Parker is joined by Justin Clemets co-founder and chief ICHRA officer, Travis Hall, VP of marketing, and John Staub, director of outreach, to discuss how ALEs can utilize ICHRAs, tailoring ICHRAs for various employee classes, broader potential of ICHRAs for different types of reimbursements, and how the Family Glitch fits into all this. Sponsored by Remodel Health

NABIP Submits Comments on Short-Term Plans, ACA Excepted Benefits, and Level-Funded Plan Arrangements Sep 08, 2023

Show notes

NABIP submitted a comment letter earlier this week in response to a proposed rule by the Treasury Department, DOL, and HHS on short-term plans, fixed indemnity plans and excepted benefits coverage. The proposed rule also included a request for information on level-funded plans, broadly. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, your favorite NABIP staff members John Greene and Michael Andel review the proposed rule and our comments. Read this comment letter, and all of our regulatory comments and written testimony, on NABIP.org - specifically under "Advocacy," under "Policy Documents."

Draft Medicare Regs, ACA Affordability Changes and the End of August Recess Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

It’s September 1, which means it’s officially fourth quarter – though we probably didn’t actually need to tell you that. September 1 also means that we are just a couple of days away from the end of August recess. If you met with your lawmakers over the summer, please log those appointments using a link on NABIP.org, under Advocacy, then Legislative Issues. With that said, we have plenty to discuss this week, most of which is at the regulatory level – between ACA affordability changes and proposed Medicare regulations. To discuss all of this and more on this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour are none other than NABIP’s John Greene and Michael Andel.

Urge Your Lawmakers to Support Observation Status Fix; Model FFM Consent Form Available Now Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

Welcome back to the Healthcare Happy Hour! Even though we are in the midst of August recess, a new bill that would resolve one of our Medicare issues has been introduced in the House. NABIP is calling on all members to contact their federal legislators and urge them to co-sponsor bipartisan legislation that would address this important issue. In addition to that, our listeners who work in the individual market will be delighted to hear that our model consent form for those in federally facilitated marketplace states is finally available. To discuss this and more, on this week’s episode of the podcast, is NABIP’s John Greene and Michael Andel.

NABIP’s Summer 2023 Federal Priorities; Tri-Agencies Propose Mental Health Parity Regulation Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

August Recess is underway! Every year, the House and Senate adjourn for the annual Congressional summer recess. This year, the House will be on recess until September 12 and the Senate will reconvene on September 4. This is a prime time to meet with your federal legislators about NABIP’s talking points, which this year is focused on getting the Employer Reporting Improvement Act across the finish line. In addition to August Recess, a mental health parity proposed rule and technical release was issued by the tri-agencies early last week. To discuss these items, on this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, is NABIP Senior Vice President of Government Affairs John Greene and Vice President of Congressional Affairs Michael Andel.

The New FFM Consent Form Rules – What Are They, and How Do You Comply? Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

As of June 18, agents and brokers who operate in states with a federally facilitated marketplace must obtain documentation that consumers they are working with have reviewed their eligibility for applying for coverage. Agents and brokers must also obtain documentation that the consumer consents to work with them when enrolling in advance payments of the premium tax credit and cost-sharing reduction payments. NABIP will be providing a model form over the coming weeks for our membership to utilize. In the meantime, on this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, Dan is joined by AgencyBloc product director Sara Brammer and Engagement Manager Neal Price, to discuss the new rule and what steps you can take to ensure compliance. Sponsored by AgencyBloc

Government Affairs Staff Review PATIENT Act, Proposed Rule on Short-Term Plans, and NABIP Response to NAIC Privacy Provisions Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

As you saw in last week’s Washington Update, the administration released a proposed regulation that touches on short-term limited duration plans, fixed indemnity plans and level-funded plans. On the Congressional side, NABIP is looking at the PATIENT Act of 2023, a transparency bill that includes many provisions we support. In addition to these items, NABIP submitted a comment letter to the NAIC earlier this week regarding some proposed privacy provisions. To discuss all of this on this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour are our very own John Greene and Michael Andel.

Learn How to Track Legislation in Your State with NABIP’s New Interactive Tool Jul 07, 2023

Show notes

We hope you enjoyed our Annual Convention in New Orleans at the end of June, and we hope you had an excellent Fourth of July. We did not host an episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour podcast last week, but that’s because we’ve been busy with our brand-new State Legislative Tracking Tool, available now on NABIP.org. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, Senior Director of Government Affairs Husni Abdelaziz is here to discuss the tool and how you can leverage it to stay informed and engaged with the legislative process in your state and region.

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