Events – Total Benefit Solutions Inc

ACA special enrollment period opens soon for people losing Medicaid coverage

March 17, 2023March 16, 2023Cayla Widdop

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will open an ACA special enrollment period (SEP) for people losing Medicaid coverage due to the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The PHE ends May 11. The ACA SEP aims to maintain continuity of coverage as people transition from Medicaid into a Marketplace-qualified health plan. It runs March 31 to July 31, 2023. Have any questions regarding this notice? Don’t hesitate to contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

Air Ambulance Reporting Update

February 20, 2023February 14, 2023Cayla Widdop

As previously reported, group health plans will be required to submit information related to air ambulance claims to the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”). In a September 2021 proposed rule, the regulators expected that rulemaking would be finalized during 2021, and that plans and carriers would be required to submit the data for calendar year 2022 by March 31, 2023, and the data for calendar year 2023 by March 31, 2024. However, under the statute, the reporting is not due until regulations are final, and the proposed rule has not been finalized. As a result, absent further guidance, there should be no reporting requirement in 2023. HHS has… Read More

Stay Up to Date on the Affordability of Employer Coverage and the Family Glitch with These Resources

February 16, 2023February 8, 2023Cayla Widdop

beginning on January 1, 2023, the new rule on affordability of employer coverage for the family members of employees went into place and changed how affordability is calculated for employees’ family members. To assist employers in understanding this rule change, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created a resource outlining the most important takeaways for employers. Employers can use this resource to understand the family glitch and how it affects them and their employees. You can view this resource here. Have any questions regarding this notice? Don’t hesitate to contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

DOL Penalties Increase for 2023

February 2, 2023January 26, 2023Cayla Widdop

The Department of Labor (“DOL”) has published the annual adjustments for 2023 that increase certain penalties applicable to employee benefit plans. As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists with any questions or concerns today at (215)355-2121.

Open Enrollment Tips from Total Benefit Solutions!

November 1, 2022October 26, 2022Cayla Widdop

As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

Inflation Reduction Act: Limits Monthly Copayments for Insulin in Medicare

October 20, 2022September 8, 2022Cayla Widdop

Beginning in 2023, limits copayments to $35 per month per prescription for covered insulin products in Medicare Part D plans and for insulin furnished through durable medical equipment under Medicare Part B, with no deductible. For 2026 and beyond, limits monthly Part D copayments for insulin to the lesser of: $35 25% of the maximum fair price (in cases where the insulin product has been selected for negotiation) 25% of the negotiated price in Part D plans Please call your Total Benefit Solutions Medicare health insurance specialists with any questions or concerns at (215)355-2121.

Inflation Reduction Act: Requires Drug Manufacturers to Pay Rebates for Drug Price Increases Above Inflation

October 11, 2022September 7, 2022Cayla Widdop

Requires drug manufacturers to pay a rebate if drug prices increase faster than the rate of inflation (CPI-U) for: Single-source drugs and biologicals covered under Medicare Part B All covered drugs under Medicare Part D except those where average annual cost is <$100 2021 is the base year for measuring cumulative price changes relative to inflation The rebate amount is based on units sold in Medicare multiplied by the amount that a drug’s price in a give year exceeds the inflation-adjusted price Price changes are measured based on the average sales price (for Part B drugs) or the average manufacturer price (for Part D); these measures include prices charged in… Read More

Inflation Reduction Act Requires the Secretary of HHS to Negotiate Medicare Drug Prices

October 5, 2022August 24, 2022Cayla Widdop

Modifies the current law “non-interference” clause to require the HHS Secretary to negotiate drug price with manufacturers for some drugs covered under Medicare Part B and Part D. Which drugs qualify for negotiation? The Secretary selects drugs to be negotiated from the 50 “negotiation-eligible” drugs with the highest total Medicare Part D spending and the 50 “negotiation-eligible” drugs with the highest total Medicare Part B spending. Which drugs are excluded from negotiation? “Negotiation eligible drugs” include brand-name drugs or biologics and exclude the following drugs: Drugs that have a generic or biosimilar available Drugs less than 9 years (for small-molecule drugs) or 13 years (for biological products) from their FDA-approval… Read More

Inflation Reduction Act: Establishing the Negotiated “Maximum Fair Price” for Medicare

September 30, 2022August 31, 2022Cayla Widdop

The upper limit for the negotiated price of a drug (the “maximum fair price”) is equal to the lower of: The drug’s enrollment-weighted negotiated price (net of all price concessions) for a Part D drug; The average sales price for a Part B drug; or A percentage of the non-federal average manufacturer price (i.e., the average price wholesalers pay manufactures for drugs distributed to non-federal purchasers), depending on FDA approval date: 75% for small-molecule drugs more than 9 years but less than 12 years beyond FDA approval; 65% for drugs between 12 and 16 years beyond FDA approval; and 40% for drugs more than 16 years beyond FDA approval Financial… Read More

Blue KC: Members Can Soon Access Rx Savings Solutions and Find Care in One Place

September 29, 2022September 23, 2022Cayla Widdop

In October, Rx Savings Solutions will integrate with the Find Care tool on MyBlueKC.com and the MyBlueKC mobile app. Rx Savings Solutions is a secure, online tool that helps eligible members find ways to save money on prescription drugs. Once integrated, the two tools will allow members to view medical and pharmacy in one place and better use both tools. The integration is one way we’re helping reduce the total cost of care for members, employers, and health plans. Eligible members can follow this path to Rx Savings Solutions: MyBlueKC.com Click Find Care in the left column Click Find Doctors, Specialists & Hospitals Click Medication Finder Have any questions regarding… Read More

Health Insurer Ordered to Stop Selling in Washington

September 22, 2022August 17, 2022Cayla Widdop

Medova Healthcare, which sold illegal insurance plans through chambers of commerce, has agreed to stop selling in Washington, according to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. The company also agreed to a $310,000 suspended fine, according to the OIC. It operated in 38 states including Washington and served 35,000 employees nationwide. Medova sold health insurance plans to almost 140 small businesses in the state, covering 1,487 employees, through chambers of commerce. One of them mentioned in the OIC investigation was the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. The chamber did not respond to inquiries. The health plans were marketed to small businesses as traditional insurance plans, but they were self-funded Employment Retirement… Read More

Prescription Drug Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act

September 21, 2022August 17, 2022Cayla Widdop

For the first time, requires the federal government to negotiate prices for some top-selling drugs covered under Medicare Requires drug companies to pay rebates if prices rise faster than inflation for drugs used by Medicare beneficiaries Eliminates 5% coinsurance for catastrophic coverage in Medicare Part D in 2024, adds a $2,000 cap on Part D out-of-pocket spending in 2025, and limits annual increases in Part D premiums for 2024-2030 Limits monthly cost sharing for insulin products to $35 for people with Medicare Expands eligibility for Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy full benefits Eliminates cost sharing for adult vaccines covered under Medicare Part D and improves access to adult vaccines under… Read More

Open Enrollment Tips!

September 20, 2022August 15, 2022Cayla Widdop

As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists at today at (215)355-2121.

Understanding the Health Care Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act

September 19, 2022August 16, 2022Cayla Widdop

The Inflation Reduction Act includes several landmark health care provisions that would lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare, reduce Medicare drug spending and extend enhanced subsidies for Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage. On Thursday, August 11, a panel of KFF experts held a web briefing to explain these provisions and how they would affect people and federal health spending, followed by a Question and Answer session. Click here to open article and view Web Event video. The legislation for the first time would require the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers over the price of some high-cost drugs in the Medicare… Read More

IRS Announces 2023 ACA Affordability Indexed Amount

August 25, 2022August 8, 2022Cayla Widdop

The IRS recently announced in Revenue Procedure 2022-34 that the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) affordability indexed amount under the Employer Shared Responsibility Payment (“ESRP”) requirements will be 9.12% for plan years that begin in 2023. This is a notable decrease from the 2022 percentage amount (9.61%) and below the original 9.5% threshold. Rev. Proc. 2022-34 establishes the indexed “required contribution percentage” used to determine whether an individual is eligible for “affordable” employer-sponsored health coverage under Section 36B (related to qualification for premium tax credits when buying ACA Marketplace coverage). However, the IRS explained in IRS Notice 2015-87 that a percentage change under Section 36B will correspond to a similar change… Read More

HHS Extends Public Health Emergency Until October 13

July 26, 2022Cayla Widdop

On July 15, 2022, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) renewed the COVID-19 pandemic Public Health Emergency, effective July 15, 2022. This will once again extend the Public Health Emergency period for an additional 90 days and as a result, numerous temporary benefit plan changes will remain in effect. Employers should continue to adhere to the national pandemic-related benefit changes and expanded timeframe for providing COVID-19 testing and vaccinations and other plan requirements. State and local emergency measures may expire at different times and could impact employee benefit plans (such as insured group health plans) and other state/or local programs (such as paid leave) differently than the timeframes… Read More

Consolidated Appropriations Act Updates

July 21, 2022July 7, 2022Cayla Widdop

In December 2020, Congress signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) into law. One section of the new law, referred to as the No Surprises Act, contains new requirements for cost transparency and provides protections for consumers against surprise medical billing. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) has implemented several changes in response to the No Surprises Act. For more information, click here. As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions Inc health insurance specialists with any questions or concerns at (215)355-2121.

HHS to Extend Public Health Emergency Once Again

July 20, 2022July 20, 2022Cayla Widdop

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has repeatedly renewed the public health emergency since it was originally declared in January 2020. The most recent extension was set to expire July 15. However, it will now be extended again, commencing on Friday, July 15. The administration will give states 60 days’ notice before ending the emergency to allow sufficient time to prepare for changes to certain programs and regulatory authorities. HHS last extended the public health emergency in May of 2022. The designation of a public health emergency allows regulators to clear the way for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for use against the coronavirus. Should the designation expire, people… Read More

New Mental Health Hotline

July 19, 2022July 18, 2022Cayla Widdop

Starting July 16, 2022, the first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline goes live. This hotline is designed to be easy to remember and by dialing 988, an individual in crisis will be connected to trained mental health counselors. This is a free service. The program will be funded by the federal government which has provided over $280 million, not only for the hotline but to help states create systems that will do much more, including mobile mental health crisis teams that can be sent to people’s homes and emergency mental health centers. The hotline is designed not only for individuals in crisis with thoughts of suicide but for all… Read More

HHS Extends Public Health Emergency until April 16, 2022

January 24, 2022January 25, 2022Ed MacConnell

ARPA Extends Open Enrollment for Individual Coverage in PA

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021Ed MacConnell

Important News From Independence Blue Cross: Trinity Health termination

February 17, 2019February 17, 2019Ed MacConnell

February 11th 2019: For the past several months, we have been negotiating the terms of our agreements with Trinity Health (Trinity), which includes the following entities, as well as their professional providers, subsidiaries, affiliates, and divisions: Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Mercy Fitzgerald, Mercy Philadelphia, and Nazareth hospitals St. Mary Medical Center, including St. Mary Rehabilitation Hospital, Saint Francis Healthcare, including Saint Francis Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware. We continue to engage in good‑faith negotiations, but we want to explain how customers and members could be affected if we are unable to reach a new agreement by March 31, 2019. How members would be affected If we are unable to reach a new agreement, Trinity will no longer be… Read More

Walgreens agrees to pay $269 million in fraud accord

January 24, 2019Cayla Widdop

Walgreens Boots Alliance agreed to pay $269.2 million to settle U.S. claims that the drugstore chain defrauded a federally funded health care program over insulin drugs and a consumer-discount initiative. The two settlements, announced Tuesday, cover allegations over improper billing. In the first one, the company agreed to pay $209.2 million to resolve claims it billed Medicare, Medicaid and other programs for hundreds of thousands of insulin pens it distributed to people who didn’t need them. In the second, Walgreens said it would pay $60 million for overbilling Medicaid by not disclosing lower prices it offered in a discount program. To read more, click here.

Beware of Phishing Email Disguised as HIPAA Privacy Audit Letter

January 10, 2019January 10, 2019Cayla Widdop

The Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) has posted an alert warning employers, and others, of a fake communication involving the OCR audit program under HIPAA. The email falsifies HHS departmental letterhead and the signature of the OCR Director and directs individuals to a non-governmental website marketing the cybersecurity services of a firm that is not associated with HHS or OCR. This phishing email originates from the email address OSOCRAudit@hhs-gov.us and directs individuals to a URL at http://www.hhs-gov.us. This is a subtle difference from the official email address for the real HIPAA audit program, OSOCRAudit@hhs.gov Phishing is a scam typically carried out… Read More

Change of Income? When and How to Notify the Marketplace.

November 9, 2018March 20, 2019Cayla Widdop

One of the benefits of getting your Health Insurance through the Marketplace is the tax credit applied to your premium, which makes your costs much more affordable. However, when determining how much your tax credit will be, you use an estimate on your income for the following year. Life is always changing, so if your income changes, if your Family size changes or even being offered Healthcare in some other way it is IMPORTANT to alert the Marketplace of these changes or you may end up owing money back to the Government when you file your taxes at the end of the year. Here we will talk about which types… Read More

Category: Events