Phia Group

Empowering Plans: P161 – New Challenges to Old Favorites - NSA, ACA, and more (Acronyms)!

On April 28, 2023
In their latest podcast, Attorneys Nick Bonds and Corey Crigger are back to discuss the No Surprises Act (NSA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Join them as they provide an overview of each of these laws and the recent legal challenges out of Nick’s home state of Texas. Will payment determinations resume? Has the ACA finally been struck down? Tune in to find out!

New Year, New Rules – But Don’t Forget About the Old Ones

On January 3, 2023
The self-funded health plan industry continues to evolve every year based on new rules, guidance, and medical advancements; however, the Department of Labor (DOL) doesn’t overlook old rules either. In case you missed it, there was a case in mid-2022 that seeks to remind us that the DOL is still considering all Affordable Care Act (ACA) rules when they review complaints and perform audits. In Walsh v. Board of Trustees of Local 272 Welfare Fund and Local 272 Welfare Fund, 22-cv-592 (S.D.N.Y August 2, 2022), the DOL filed suit against a Taft-Hartley welfare plan and its trustees for alleged violations of certain amendments that the ACA made to ERISA, including the maintenance of grandfathered status.

The Baby Formula Shortage and Preventive Care

On May 31, 2022
The baby formula shortage in the United States has been worsening for months. Our country’s supply was already squeezed by a perfect storm of pandemic-related supply chain issues and inflation costs. Then, with the detection of dangerous bacteria leading to the sickening and death of several infants, Abbott Nutrition shut down its Michigan plant in February – a plant that formerly supplied nearly one-fifth of all the baby formula in the country.

The Status of Major Legal Challenges to the ACA

On August 25, 2021
Learn about the Supreme Court's decision after 18 states threaten the Affordable Care Act, putting 31 million Americans at risk of losing coverage.

Empowering Plans: P96 - Election Aftermath – Where Things Stand

On November 13, 2020
In this episode of the Empowering Plans Podcast, Ron Peck, Brady Bizarro, and Nick Bonds reunite to discuss their developing thoughts on the presidential election results. They speculate as to what moves a Biden administration can make on health care with a potentially Republican-controlled senate, and what effects those moves could have in the self-funded industry. They also discuss California v. Texas and try to anticipate how the Supreme Court might rule on the fate of the ACA. Lastly, they talk through the exciting news of a potentially viable coronavirus vaccine.

ACB – The New Supreme

On October 27, 2020
Judge Amy Coney Barrett being appointed as Justice Barrett will go down as one of the fastest appointments in recent history. Learn more about the nominee.

Empowering Plans: P92 - Healthcare on Stage & COVID-19 in the White House

On October 13, 2020
In this episode, Ron Peck and Brady Bizarro guide you through a chaotic week for healthcare news. What did we learn (if anything) from the first presidential debate? With COVID-19 infecting the President and much of the West Wing, what can we learn from the President’s experimental treatment? Would self-funded plans cover this treatment? What impact could all of this have on the Affordable Care Act lawsuit? Join us to find out!

Offer More for More!

On October 8, 2020
If and when private health benefits cannot compete with a public option on price, they will need to re-invent the industry. Learn how.

Empowering Plans: P88 - SCOTUS & HHS – ICYMI

On August 3, 2020
In this episode of the Empowering Plans podcast, Jen and Nick discuss significant developments in nondiscrimination regulations, and the implications for those in the self-funding industry. They talk through the evolution of Section 1557 of the ACA, the new final rule issued by HHS, the Supreme Court’s recent decision on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the looming legal challenges as the health care field attempts to reconcile what we’re hearing from the Supreme Court and HHS. They piece together what all this means for employer-sponsored plans, and offer some advice as to how employers and plans should respond.

ACA PCORI FEES ARE BACK

On January 14, 2020
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee was established as a part of the ACA to fund medical research. Learn more about ACA fees.

Number of Uninsured Increases for First Time Since Passage of the ACA

On September 16, 2019
The Census Bureau's 2018 Health Insurance Coverage report found that the number of Americans without health insurance increased for the first time since 2009.

Health Care “Cadillac Tax” Repeal Bill Passed by the House

On July 24, 2019
The House of Representatives voted to abolish the "Cadillac Tax" on high-valued health plans that when named a law, will put an end to tax threat to employers.

Final Individual Coverage HRA Rule Released

On July 22, 2019
The Trump Administration finalized a rule in which employers can use HRAs to subsidize their employees' purchase of individual coverage.

Will Sex Discrimination be Re-Defined?

On June 6, 2019
Learn more about the US Department of Health & Human Services' (HHS) proposed revision of the Affordable Care Act to exclude terms within sexual discrimination.

Too Early to Worry About 2020? Never!

On February 27, 2019
It's never too early to start planning. Learn more about the two things health plans should pay attention to with the recent and future ACA changes.