by Tom Barrett | Feb 12, 2014 | Employer Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Reform
3 Employer Take-a-ways The administration announced late Monday yet another change-up to one of the major focal points embedded in the Affordable Care Act – the employer mandate. Here are the three biggest aspects of the announcement that employers of all sizes need...
by Tom Barrett | Jan 23, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Health, Healthcare Reform
The healthcare reform law requires that most health plans now cover common preventive care services without costing covered employees or their dependents anything out-of-pocket. However, the type of preventive service covered at no charge can be a moving target,...
by Tom Barrett | Dec 4, 2013 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Reform, Managed Care - Group Health, Providers, Uncategorized
With healthcare reform and the Affordable Care Act almost in full bloom, more potentially game-changing unintended consequences are starting to emerge. One such consequence stems from the introduction of “narrow networks.” Initially intended for healthcare.gov...
by Tom Barrett | Nov 15, 2013 | Employer Issues, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform
Quite often in the course of working with our clients on practical and innovative approaches to lower their healthcare costs or mitigate pending increases, we are asked two questions: “Why is healthcare so expensive?” And “where is the money going?” The first question...
by Tom Barrett | Oct 25, 2013 | Employer Issues, General Health, Health Policy, News and Events, Uncategorized
That is the title of Ezra Klein’s piece in yesterday’s Washington Post that indicates while the federal healthcare exchange is said to be open for business, it really isn’t. Klein interviews highly respected health industry consultant Bob Laszewski who possesses...