by Mike Barrett | Feb 17, 2015 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Issues, National News, News and Events
As you likely already know, Anthem’s database was recently hacked. It appears that nearly all Anthem product lines were impacted. Anthem, the country’s 2nd largest health insurance carrier, reports that member information for some 80 million individuals may have...
by Mike Barrett | Aug 28, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Pharmacy Costs, Pharmacy, PBMs and Pharma Costs
Recently the Obama Administration compromised to allow waivers for religious organizations to restrict paying for contraceptives on their health plans. What does that mean for most religious groups that offer health benefits? Unless a group is self funded and writes...
by Mike Barrett | Aug 7, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Reform, Humor
I wonder how much time and money employers have spent planning on the various dimensions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that died on the vine, have been changed, pushed back or remain so cloudy that no one really knows the correct answers. Do you think it’s enough...
by Mike Barrett | Jul 24, 2014 | Employer Issues, Healthcare Reform
If it were not my job to understand as much as possible about the Affordable Care Act, I would not even take note of the US Court of Appeals decision earlier this week. I promise I won’t be wonky. Here is what The Washington Post had to say about contradictory...
by Mike Barrett | May 30, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Reform
The IRS is trying to keep employers in the group health market. The new ruling is somewhat complicated. What a big surprise, huh? The IRS is saying that the ACA requires that plan sponsors ensure that there are no limits on the mandatory essential health benefits ACA...