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Insurance

A HITECH world: New law expands HIPAA enforcement power

10/05/2009

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, signed into law on Feb. 17, 2009, was designed to advance the use of health information technology, such as electronic health records. Among other important aspects, the HITECH Act expands the scope and enforcement power of HIPAA, with greater penalties for noncompliance.

Despite docs’ best efforts, novel health plan succumbs

10/05/2009

Last year, Ohio doctors who were fed up with health insurance companies started The Physicians Assurance Corporation (TPAC). Designed to serve the employer-provided health insurance market, it featured low premiums, aggressive disease management—and an enthusiastic cadre of physicians. But TPAC lasted less than 10 months.

New health coverage rules for dependent kids start Nov. 8

10/02/2009

A new federal law takes effect Nov. 8 that extends eligibility for group health insurance coverage to some dependent children age 18 or older who are higher-education students.

‘Michelle’s Law’ kicks in Nov. 8: New health insurance rules for dependent kids

09/29/2009

A new federal law takes effect Nov. 8 that extends eligibility for group health insurance coverage to certain dependent children over age 18 who are enrolled in institutions of higher education.

EEOC takes sides in ‘the pill v. the pope’ battle

09/29/2009

The EEOC has filed suit against Belmont Abbey College, a Catholic-run institution in Belmont, claiming the college’s refusal to provide coverage for birth control in its employee health plan violates the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act.

Poizner sues over sale of workers’ comp insurance assets

09/21/2009

Steve Poizner, the California Insurance Commissioner and Republican candidate for governor, recently filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the sale of assets in the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF). He contends efforts by the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to use the funds to balance the state budget are unconstitutional.

Rebound? Compensation up, but health costs remain high

09/18/2009

A new Watson Wyatt survey says 44% of employers plan to reverse pay cuts made during the recession. That’s up from 30% in June. Also, about one-third of employers plan to unfreeze salaries, up from 17%.

COBRA enrollments doubled since start of subsidy

09/18/2009

This summer, 38% of terminated employees bought into their former organization’s COBRA health insurance coverage plan. That’s double the 19% enrollment rate recorded during the end of 2008, according to a new Hewitt Associates report.

Is a health insurance opt-out bonus taxable?

09/18/2009

Q. We give employees who opt out of our health plan a bonus. Do we withhold federal taxes on that bonus?

What’s the new law? Must we now provide health insurance to employees’ adult children?

09/14/2009

Q. I understand that Illinois has passed a new law requiring certain employer-provided insurance policies to cover an employee’s dependents who are up to age 26 (or up to age 30 in some instances). Which employers and which policies are affected by the new law?