May Health Insurance Reform Weekly Easy To Insure ME

A weekly compilation from Aetna of wellness care-related developments in Washington, D.C. and state legislatures across the country. EasyToInsureME has the answers.

Week of April 25, 2011

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it had rejected a request from the state of Virginia to rapidly-track its challenge of the Cheap Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law in March 2010. The Court did not disclose the reasons behind its decision.  Due to the fact the 4th and 11th Circuits will be hearing arguments in the subsequent two months on the constitutionality of the individual mandate, it is much way more most likely that when these two Circuits have spoken the Supreme Court will be more inclined to resolve the matter with some finality.

While the lawsuits filed by a number of states march on via the regular appeals approach, some of the states are taking the unusual step of turning down dollars out there to assist fund implementation of the law. Oklahoma, for one, has turned down $54.6 million in demonstration grants to distance itself from the law. But Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter upped the ante final week when he issued an executive order prohibiting state agencies from implementing any aspect of the health reform law and from accepting federal funds tied to implementation of the law. When some question no matter whether such outright defiance of the law would hold up as constitutional, the situation underscores the bitterness felt by some state leaders toward the law. In some cases, implementation can be expected to move at a snail's pace, if at all, till the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on the concern.

Federal

With Congress on recess last week, there is no Federal report for this week.

States

ARIZONA:  The legislature adjourned final week immediately after a contentious and partisan session. Governor Jan Brewer has until Can two, to sign or veto legislation, but the final status on a number of bills affecting well being insurers and their buyers is already recognized:

A bill that would have established the Arizona Well being Exchange, governed by a board of directors that included insurer representation, was voted out of committee but did not make it out of the Home. The legislation was based on the NAIC model.
A bill that would have required health insurers to provide a written claims details report within 30 days of receiving a request from a strategy, strategy sponsor, or plan administrator was passed in both chambers but died when a required conference committee failed to give consideration to the matter prior to adjournment.
A bill that would have established the procedural mechanisms for an interstate compact to perform with other states to keep away from implementing provisions of the ACA was passed by both chambers but was vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer.
A bill that would have prohibited contracts from requiring providers to assume the expense of acquiring vaccines and would have mandated reimbursement of providers for vaccine acquisition charges and administration was scrapped. Health insurers committed to meeting with the Arizona Academy of Pediatrics to reach a resolution devoid of legislation.

In other matters, the Department of Insurance announced that it will hold a series of community meetings around the state to produce material about health insurance coverage premiums in the individual and little group markets.

CALIFORNIA:  Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law final week that eases administrative and cost burdens on employers and folks, come tax time, by conforming to federal rules relating to the taxation of dependent coverage. As a result, employers and their workers will not have to deal with the complications of complying with differing tax rules.  Aetna joined a diverse coalition of small business, labor, and other groups in helping to concentrate attention on the require for this legislation. Also, the California Health Rewards Exchange board met for the initial time final week, a step toward implementing the very first reform-prompted insurance exchange in the nation. The Board spent most of it time on administrative decisions and announced the appointment of interim administrative director, Pat Powers, who is now president of the nonprofit Center for Wellness Improvement.