Archive for the ‘Issues’ Category

Troopers call for evidence database upgrade

(AlaskaWatchdog.org) After struggling with more than a few gaps in their evidence database, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers are on the brink of updating a system that has been in place since 1984. Director Col. Gary Folger said the current system does not sort or categorize items in any kind of searchable...
July 13th, 2010 | Accountability | Read More

Health Care: IRS to mop up mandates mess left by Congress

(CNNMoney.com) With a new mandate looming that will require business owners to file millions more tax forms, the Internal Revenue Service has begun the daunting process of figuring out how to turn the law’s sweeping demands into actual rules for taxpayers. (Read more…) The Alaska Policy Forum...
July 11th, 2010 | Recent News | Read More

Health Care Reform Legislation Timeline

Health Care Reform Legislation Timeline
As part of the effort to better understand the bill, the Alaska Policy Forum has compiled from several sources a timeline that outlines the major provisions of the legislation’s implementation. Click here to view the timeline (javascript required). There are two bills that make up President Obama’s...
July 9th, 2010 | Featured | Read More

Premium changes

The legislation instructs state exchanges to require insurance carriers seeking certification as qualified health plans to submit a justification for any premium increase prior to implementation of the increase. The exchange is then required to take the information into consideration when determining...
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, requirements, Uncategorized | Read More

Health cooperatives

The legislation authorizes $6 billion in funding for the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) program to foster the creation of nonprofit, member-run health insurance companies. Health care cooperatives are nonprofit, consumer-governed organizations that provide insurance and deliver health services....
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, new programs, Uncategorized | Read More

State responsibilities

The state exchanges will be required to certify qualified health plans, operate a toll-free hotline and Web site, rate qualified health plans, present plan options in a standard format, inform individuals of the eligibility requirements for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program,...
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, new programs | Read More

Temporary reinsurance program for employers providing health insurance to non-Medicare retirees

Creates a temporary reinsurance program for employers providing health insurance coverage to retirees over age 55 who are not eligible for Medicare. This program would reimburse employers retrospectively 80% of claims between $15,000-90,000, which will be indexed for inflation. It will end on January...
July 9th, 2010 | insurance, National Health Care Reform Legislation, new programs, Uncategorized | Read More

Penalty for use of Health Savings Account Funds for withdrawal goes from 10 to 20

Penalty for use of Health Savings Account Funds for withdrawal goes from 10 to 20% Source: NAHU
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, requirements, Uncategorized | Read More

Creates high-risk pool coverage for people who have been uninsured for at least six months

Creates high-risk pool coverage for people who have been uninsured for at least six months and cannot obtain current individual coverage due to preexisting conditions. This national program can work with existing state high-risk pools and will end on January 1, 2014, once the Exchanges become operational and...
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, new programs, Uncategorized | Read More

Improve Guidelines on Preventive Care

Expand and improve coordination of Task Forces on Clinical Preventive Services and Community Preventive Services to develop, update, and disseminate evidence-based recommendations on the use of clinical and community prevention services, with an emphasis on health disparities. Task Forces will review...
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, new programs, Uncategorized | Read More

Requires W-2s to include health benefits

Requires all employers to include on W-2s the aggregate cost of employer-sponsored health benefits for informational purposes only. If employee receives health insurance coverage under multiple plans, the employer must disclose the aggregate value of all such health coverage, but exclude all contributions...
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, tax changes, Uncategorized | Read More

Deduction limitation on taxable year remuneration to certain jobs

$500,000 deduction limitation on taxable year remuneration to officers, employees, directors, and service providers of covered health insurance providers. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, requirements, Uncategorized | Read More

Excise Tax on High-Cost Insurance Plans

Excise Tax on High-Cost Insurance Plans—Tax Years Beginning 2018 or Later. Insurers will face a 40 percent excise tax on health coverage with premiums in excess of $10,200 for an individual or $27,500 for family coverage. These thresholds are increased to $11,850 for individuals or $30,950 for families...
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, tax changes, Uncategorized | Read More

Medicaid Global Payments Demonstration Project

Establish a Medicaid global payments demonstration to fund large, safety-net hospitals in five states to alter payment from fee-for-service to a capitated, global payment structure. Demonstration projects to occur in 2010–2012. Source: The Common Wealth Fund
July 9th, 2010 | Medicare/Medicaid, National Health Care Reform Legislation, Uncategorized | Read More

Interagency Working Group

Create an Interagency Working Group to coordinate and streamline federal quality activities, as directed by the President. Must issue first report not later than December 31, 2010. Source: The Common Wealth Fund
July 9th, 2010 | National Health Care Reform Legislation, new programs, Uncategorized | Read More

Improve the Physician Quality Reporting System

Extend physician quality reporting system beyond 2010, penalize eligible providers who do not participate beginning 2015, expand Medicare physician feedback program, and provide reports to physicians that compare their resource use to such patterns of other physicians. Source: The Common Wealth Fund
July 9th, 2010 | Medicare/Medicaid, National Health Care Reform Legislation, Uncategorized | Read More
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