Legislation

Employee Benefit Changes Contained in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Employee Benefit Changes Contained in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Congress passed the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The bill includes signifi...

Anthem Blue Cross - Recent regulations focus on price and quality transparency

We believe part of making healthcare simpler means empowering members’ decisions with information that balances the cost and quality of services. Anthem Blue Cross will expand the amount of informatio...

Anthem Blue Cross - Recent regulations focus on price and quality transparency

We believe part of making healthcare simpler means empowering members’ decisions with information that balances the cost and quality of services. Anthem Blue Cross will expand the amount of informatio...

New CA Legislation on Surprise Medical Bills

New CA Legislation on Surprise Medical Bills A new California bill, AB 510 by Assemblymember Jim Wood, will strengthen California’s already historic protections against surprise medical bills...

Bill Would Allow HSAs for Direct Primary Care

Bill Would Allow HSAs for Direct Primary Care A new bill would make direct primary care (DPC) eligible for HSA contributions. Pre-tax HSA funds could be used to pay DPC fees. U.S. Senators Bill C...

Health Plans & the New Federal Price Transparency Rules

Health Plans & the New Federal Price Transparency Rules An issue brief by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) looks at how federal price transparency rules for health plans and hospitals co...

Insurance Commissioners Give Biden Their Recommendations

Insurance Commissioners Give Biden Their Recommendations Eleven state insurance commissioners banded together to give ACA policy recommendations to President-elect Joe Biden. California Insura...

Additional Sections 125 and 129 Flexibility Included in COVID-19 Relief Legislation

In the recently passed COVID-19 relief legislation, Congress included several temporary changes to Section 125 and 129 rules that provide additional reimbursement and election change flexibility for p...

Significant Benefits Issues in New COVID-19 Relief Legislation

The COVID-19 relief bill (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA)) recently passed by Congress contains several important employee benefit-related provisions, including restrictions on “surprise m...

California to Enforce New Mental Health Parity Law

California to Enforce New Mental Health Parity Law Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a notice to all health insurance companies in California about their obligation to comply with chan...

California to Enforce New Mental Health Parity Law

California to Enforce New Mental Health Parity Law Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a notice to all health insurance companies in California about their obligation to comply with chan...

California Hires Top Regulatory Officials

California Hires Top Regulatory Officials Governor Gavin Newsom hired two top health care regulatory officials. Mary Watanabe is Director of the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC). She jo...