LISLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aldera, a leading provider of cloud-based and on-premise core administration and private portal solutions for healthcare payers and administrators, today announced the successful implementation of its claims processing and auto-adjudication solution for Unified Life Insurance Company (ULIC). ULIC, which is licensed to provide health insurance in 49 states and Washington, D.C., has more than 30,000 medical members. “We turned to Aldera because it was the only health
Reported by Business Wire 20 hours ago.
Aldera Implements Claims Processing and Auto-Adjudication Solution for Unified Life Insurance in Under Six Months
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NJHA's Health Insurance Counselors Help Laid-off Casino Workers Sign Up for Coverage
PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The New Jersey Hospital Association's Certified Application Counselors (CACs) are in hard-hit Atlantic City helping laid-off casino employees sign up for healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act. The Showboat and Revel...
Reported by PR Newswire 19 hours ago.
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The Downside to Lower Labor Costs in the Sharing Economy
In this country, we believe in the value of work. Hard work is a prerequisite to economic success, and it is also held up as a virtue in itself. The American ideal is that if you work hard and save then you should be able to pay your bills and take care of yourself and your family. In other words, you should not be poor. The ways in which we organize work, however, may work against that ideal.
Companies like Airbnb, Uber and TaskRabbit are exemplars of the sharing economy. The emphasis is on "sharing" a resource, such as a spare bedroom, a car or some spare time. The owner of the resource can monetize that by "sharing" it, for a fee, with someone who would like a service. The sharers in this scenario are not employees of Airbnb, Uber or TaskRabbit, but are generally described as community members. For many of these sharers, however, this is a critical source of income -- this is not sharing; this is work. Witness the furious competition between Uber and Lyft for drivers and the pricing schemes that are intentionally targeting taxi services to put them out of business, and one can see that these businesses are not facilitating "sharing," they are changing the shape of jobs in which many people earn a living.
This method of organizing work works extremely well in controlling labor costs, since the company doesn't have employees and only owes drivers or workers money after they have performed a profitable service. If someone gets sick in the car and that driver has to spend the rest of the day cleaning the car, that's not Uber's problem. If a task takes longer or is harder than a "tasker" thought it would be, then the tasker doesn't make as much money as they'd hoped, but TaskRabbit still gets its fee. A significant amount of business risk is shifted to the worker, and all the costs of things like benefits or unemployment insurance or workers' compensation are avoided.
This model is good business, and one can see why investors like it. The company only owns and has responsibility for brokering transactions, and collects a fee on each. But the risks associated with illness, injury or just the ups and downs of customer demand are largely borne by workers. Moreover, the online design creates competition among drivers, taskers or hosts for a job, keeping their prices (i.e. wages) low. And this "sharing economy" approach is just the latest innovation in controlling labor costs, which has been a focus of business for quite some time.
But while success in lowering labor costs may be good for an individual business, it has a downside for our society. Working people in this type of precarious work arrangement have both low (remember those low prices?) and unpredictable incomes. It is difficult to plan to pay regular bills, such as rent, car payments, and groceries, with such irregular income. Moreover, these jobs have little insurance for injury, illness, unemployment, or old age. The winning bid for a job is not likely to include an additional amount to contribute to a retirement savings plan or to cover the cost of health insurance. So the result is more and more people working harder for less and less.
In the end, the sharing economy is nice words for what is really more of the same. More money going to business profits held by a few, and less money going to the labor income that is the primary means of support for most Americans. What we need is a sharing economy in which working people share in the wealth that their labor creates. Unfortunately, this version of a sharing economy does not promise that.
Originally posted 8.29.14 on the Aspen Institute blog. Reported by Huffington Post 19 hours ago.
Companies like Airbnb, Uber and TaskRabbit are exemplars of the sharing economy. The emphasis is on "sharing" a resource, such as a spare bedroom, a car or some spare time. The owner of the resource can monetize that by "sharing" it, for a fee, with someone who would like a service. The sharers in this scenario are not employees of Airbnb, Uber or TaskRabbit, but are generally described as community members. For many of these sharers, however, this is a critical source of income -- this is not sharing; this is work. Witness the furious competition between Uber and Lyft for drivers and the pricing schemes that are intentionally targeting taxi services to put them out of business, and one can see that these businesses are not facilitating "sharing," they are changing the shape of jobs in which many people earn a living.
This method of organizing work works extremely well in controlling labor costs, since the company doesn't have employees and only owes drivers or workers money after they have performed a profitable service. If someone gets sick in the car and that driver has to spend the rest of the day cleaning the car, that's not Uber's problem. If a task takes longer or is harder than a "tasker" thought it would be, then the tasker doesn't make as much money as they'd hoped, but TaskRabbit still gets its fee. A significant amount of business risk is shifted to the worker, and all the costs of things like benefits or unemployment insurance or workers' compensation are avoided.
This model is good business, and one can see why investors like it. The company only owns and has responsibility for brokering transactions, and collects a fee on each. But the risks associated with illness, injury or just the ups and downs of customer demand are largely borne by workers. Moreover, the online design creates competition among drivers, taskers or hosts for a job, keeping their prices (i.e. wages) low. And this "sharing economy" approach is just the latest innovation in controlling labor costs, which has been a focus of business for quite some time.
But while success in lowering labor costs may be good for an individual business, it has a downside for our society. Working people in this type of precarious work arrangement have both low (remember those low prices?) and unpredictable incomes. It is difficult to plan to pay regular bills, such as rent, car payments, and groceries, with such irregular income. Moreover, these jobs have little insurance for injury, illness, unemployment, or old age. The winning bid for a job is not likely to include an additional amount to contribute to a retirement savings plan or to cover the cost of health insurance. So the result is more and more people working harder for less and less.
In the end, the sharing economy is nice words for what is really more of the same. More money going to business profits held by a few, and less money going to the labor income that is the primary means of support for most Americans. What we need is a sharing economy in which working people share in the wealth that their labor creates. Unfortunately, this version of a sharing economy does not promise that.
Originally posted 8.29.14 on the Aspen Institute blog. Reported by Huffington Post 19 hours ago.
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Health insurance shopping gets little attention, survey finds
Forty-one percent of people spend 15 minutes or less shopping for health care coverage, according to new data. -More-
Reported by SmartBrief 16 hours ago.
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Pharmacy Benefit Management in the US Industry Market Research Report from IBISWorld Has Been Updated
Industry consolidation will continue to increase the size and clout of PBMs who promote drug therapies as preventative measures and less expensive alternatives to more costly forms of medical care like hospitalizations, thereby boosting prescription medication use and industry revenue. For these reasons, industry research firm IBISWorld has updated a report on the Pharmacy Benefit Management industry in its growing industry report collection.
New York, NY (PRWEB) September 08, 2014
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play a crucial part in the US healthcare system by influencing not only which prescription drugs Americans can get, but also from whom and for how much consumers can get them. IBISWorld estimates that rising drug costs, higher consumer spending on healthcare and increasing prescription drug use drove up revenue for the Pharmacy Benefit Management industry at an annualized rate of 5.3% to $263.4 billion over the five years to 2014. “Rising drug costs caused health plan sponsors to increasingly turn to PBMs for cost management services,” according to IBISWorld Industry Analyst Leah Goddard. In turn, this trend drove industry operators to consolidate to better leverage larger retail pharmacies, customer networks and drug use data to negotiate better cost savings with drug manufacturers. As a result, major merger and acquisition activity has continued to increase the market share of the largest PBMs in the industry; two of the largest participants, Medco Health Solutions and Express Scripts Inc., merged in 2012 to form industry leader Express Scripts Holding Company.
The aging of the population and higher rates of chronic disease also propelled health expenditure and prescription drug use upward over the period. “Declining unemployment and rising disposable income levels, combined with expanded private health insurance coverage, have allowed consumers to increase spending on medical care since the recession,” says Goddard. However, many consumers still opted for lower-priced generics and over-the-counter medications instead of higher-priced brand name drugs, which has moderated revenue growth over the period. Nonetheless, IBISWorld anticipates that further growth in drug manufacturing costs, consumer health expenditure, prescription drug use and expanded prescription drug plan enrollment will increase industry revenue 3.9% in 2014.
Growth prospects for PBMs are strong. The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will expand prescription drug coverage over the next five years, which will help bolster prescription drug use and industry revenue as a result. Industry consolidation will continue to increase the size and clout of PBMs who promote drug therapies as preventative measures and less expensive alternatives to more costly forms of medical care like hospitalizations, thereby boosting prescription medication use and industry revenue.
For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Pharmacy Benefit Management in the US industry report page.
Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/IBISWorld
Friend IBISWorld on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IBISWorld/121347533189
IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
This industry includes firms that provide pharmacy benefit management services. Industry firms are third-party administrators of government and employer-sponsored prescription drug programs. They are primarily responsible for processing and paying prescription drug claims.
Industry Performance
Executive Summary
Key External Drivers
Current Performance
Industry Outlook
Industry Life Cycle
Products & Markets
Supply Chain
Products & Services
Major Markets
Globalization & Trade
Business Locations
Competitive Landscape
Market Share Concentration
Key Success Factors
Cost Structure Benchmarks
Barriers to Entry
Major Companies
Operating Conditions
Capital Intensity
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Annual Change
Key Ratios
About IBISWorld Inc.
Recognized as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772. Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.
New York, NY (PRWEB) September 08, 2014
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play a crucial part in the US healthcare system by influencing not only which prescription drugs Americans can get, but also from whom and for how much consumers can get them. IBISWorld estimates that rising drug costs, higher consumer spending on healthcare and increasing prescription drug use drove up revenue for the Pharmacy Benefit Management industry at an annualized rate of 5.3% to $263.4 billion over the five years to 2014. “Rising drug costs caused health plan sponsors to increasingly turn to PBMs for cost management services,” according to IBISWorld Industry Analyst Leah Goddard. In turn, this trend drove industry operators to consolidate to better leverage larger retail pharmacies, customer networks and drug use data to negotiate better cost savings with drug manufacturers. As a result, major merger and acquisition activity has continued to increase the market share of the largest PBMs in the industry; two of the largest participants, Medco Health Solutions and Express Scripts Inc., merged in 2012 to form industry leader Express Scripts Holding Company.
The aging of the population and higher rates of chronic disease also propelled health expenditure and prescription drug use upward over the period. “Declining unemployment and rising disposable income levels, combined with expanded private health insurance coverage, have allowed consumers to increase spending on medical care since the recession,” says Goddard. However, many consumers still opted for lower-priced generics and over-the-counter medications instead of higher-priced brand name drugs, which has moderated revenue growth over the period. Nonetheless, IBISWorld anticipates that further growth in drug manufacturing costs, consumer health expenditure, prescription drug use and expanded prescription drug plan enrollment will increase industry revenue 3.9% in 2014.
Growth prospects for PBMs are strong. The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will expand prescription drug coverage over the next five years, which will help bolster prescription drug use and industry revenue as a result. Industry consolidation will continue to increase the size and clout of PBMs who promote drug therapies as preventative measures and less expensive alternatives to more costly forms of medical care like hospitalizations, thereby boosting prescription medication use and industry revenue.
For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Pharmacy Benefit Management in the US industry report page.
Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/IBISWorld
Friend IBISWorld on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IBISWorld/121347533189
IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
This industry includes firms that provide pharmacy benefit management services. Industry firms are third-party administrators of government and employer-sponsored prescription drug programs. They are primarily responsible for processing and paying prescription drug claims.
Industry Performance
Executive Summary
Key External Drivers
Current Performance
Industry Outlook
Industry Life Cycle
Products & Markets
Supply Chain
Products & Services
Major Markets
Globalization & Trade
Business Locations
Competitive Landscape
Market Share Concentration
Key Success Factors
Cost Structure Benchmarks
Barriers to Entry
Major Companies
Operating Conditions
Capital Intensity
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Annual Change
Key Ratios
About IBISWorld Inc.
Recognized as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772. Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.
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Florida gets $7M in health insurance grants
Three Florida organizations will receive nearly $7 million to help consumers sign up for health insurance during the second enrollment season under the Affordable Care Act.
Reported by Miami Herald 15 hours ago.
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Grant Money Awarded For Affordable Care Act Assistance
The University of South Florida is one of just three organizations in the state who will receive federal funds to help people sign up for health insurance during the second enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act.
Reported by cbs4.com 15 hours ago.
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Six Years Later, Many Unknowns Remain in New Jersey's Health Insurance Market
Patch Holmdel-Hazlet, NJ -- By Carolyn Andress
Reported by Patch 1 hour ago.
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No Title
Three Florida organizations will receive nearly $7 million to help consumers sign up for health insurance during the second enrollment season under the Affordable Care Act.
Reported by WEAR ABC 3 15 hours ago.
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Insurance Expert Discusses Options for Children's Health Coverage
The city's Health Department says nearly 360,000 kids were without health insurance. It's estimated that about 165,000 will gain coverage by 2016, but that still leaves thousands of kids without access to basic health care. NY1's Erin Billups with Pamela Hassan, chief marketing officer for Fidelis Care, to discuss benefits that are available to children.
Reported by NY1 14 hours ago.
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Zane Benefits Announces On Demand Webinar on Compliance
On Demand Webinar Outlines Compliance for Premium Reimbursement
Park City, UT (PRWEB) September 08, 2014
Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, announces a webinar on compliance tips for administering a premium reimbursement plan has been released in an on demand version.
According to Zane Benefits, with health reform in full effect, compliance is top of mind for employers, health insurance brokers, and CPAs. As employers transition to individual health insurance and premium reimbursement, there are important compliance considerations to understand and comply with.
In the 60 minute webinar, Zane Benefits President, Rick Lindquist, covers three ways to reimburse employees for individual health insurance, the federal regulations employers must follow to avoid costly fines, tips for administering a compliant, tax-free reimbursement plan, and answers to common compliance questions.
Click here to read the full article.
About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, was founded in 2006 to revolutionize the way employers provide employee health benefits in America. We empower employees to take control over their own healthcare, while helping employers recruit and retain the best talent. Our online solutions allow small and medium-sized businesses to successfully transition to a health benefits program that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up more time to serve their customers. For more information about ZaneHealth, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 13 hours ago.
Park City, UT (PRWEB) September 08, 2014
Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, announces a webinar on compliance tips for administering a premium reimbursement plan has been released in an on demand version.
According to Zane Benefits, with health reform in full effect, compliance is top of mind for employers, health insurance brokers, and CPAs. As employers transition to individual health insurance and premium reimbursement, there are important compliance considerations to understand and comply with.
In the 60 minute webinar, Zane Benefits President, Rick Lindquist, covers three ways to reimburse employees for individual health insurance, the federal regulations employers must follow to avoid costly fines, tips for administering a compliant, tax-free reimbursement plan, and answers to common compliance questions.
Click here to read the full article.
About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, was founded in 2006 to revolutionize the way employers provide employee health benefits in America. We empower employees to take control over their own healthcare, while helping employers recruit and retain the best talent. Our online solutions allow small and medium-sized businesses to successfully transition to a health benefits program that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up more time to serve their customers. For more information about ZaneHealth, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 13 hours ago.
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Division approves health plan rate hikes
The Alaska Division of Insurance has approved rate increases of up to 40 percent for individuals who bought health insurance plans through the federally run online marketplace.
Reported by Miami Herald 12 hours ago.
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Comparing Car Insurance Rates by Zip Code Now Easier for U.S. Drivers at New Insurer Portal
Comparing car insurance rates are now easier using zip codes at the Quotes Pros website at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) September 08, 2014
The price increases in the insurance industry for vehicle owners can now be reviewed as price changes happen thanks to the Quotes Pros website. A new database that allows easy solutions for comparing car insurance rates by zip code is now installed and available to use at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.
The comparisons that are now available to motorists this year are made between a listing of companies that appear inside of the open database. Different agencies are added and removed from the system regularly in order to make it effortless for a car owner to explore rates changes across the country.
"The easy system that we've programmed and opened to the public on our website uses a zip code in order to accurately match providers capable of offering rates in a selected area," one Quotes Pros rep said.
The zip code search format is a new concept in the insurance industry and some companies are now moving to this system compared to regular phone quotation tools. The price data that is comparable at the Quotes Pros website is tied to liability, SR22, full coverage, collector and other types of auto policies.
"A user of our website has full control over the types of policies that can be selected as well as access to agency pricing from the prepared list of companies," said the rep.
The Quotes Pros company has added to its quotation tool this year in order to diversify the types of agencies that can be evaluated by the public. Motorcycle insurance, health insurance and life insurance price data from providers in all 50 states is also viewable at http://quotespros.com/motorcycle-insurance.html.
About QuotesPros.com
The QuotesPros.com company supplies comparison opportunities to the public to help with long-term insurance policy planning in the U.S. The open database that is filled with insurers and price packages is available to use daily by zip codes. The QuotesPros.com company uses a private network of companies in order to help display the information that consumers access through the open system. Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) September 08, 2014
The price increases in the insurance industry for vehicle owners can now be reviewed as price changes happen thanks to the Quotes Pros website. A new database that allows easy solutions for comparing car insurance rates by zip code is now installed and available to use at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.
The comparisons that are now available to motorists this year are made between a listing of companies that appear inside of the open database. Different agencies are added and removed from the system regularly in order to make it effortless for a car owner to explore rates changes across the country.
"The easy system that we've programmed and opened to the public on our website uses a zip code in order to accurately match providers capable of offering rates in a selected area," one Quotes Pros rep said.
The zip code search format is a new concept in the insurance industry and some companies are now moving to this system compared to regular phone quotation tools. The price data that is comparable at the Quotes Pros website is tied to liability, SR22, full coverage, collector and other types of auto policies.
"A user of our website has full control over the types of policies that can be selected as well as access to agency pricing from the prepared list of companies," said the rep.
The Quotes Pros company has added to its quotation tool this year in order to diversify the types of agencies that can be evaluated by the public. Motorcycle insurance, health insurance and life insurance price data from providers in all 50 states is also viewable at http://quotespros.com/motorcycle-insurance.html.
About QuotesPros.com
The QuotesPros.com company supplies comparison opportunities to the public to help with long-term insurance policy planning in the U.S. The open database that is filled with insurers and price packages is available to use daily by zip codes. The QuotesPros.com company uses a private network of companies in order to help display the information that consumers access through the open system. Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.
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Can Republicans Be Convinced to Help Improve the Affordable Care Act?
When the Affordable Care Act was passed in early 2010, people made lots of predictions about how its implementation would proceed, in both practical and political terms. While the law's opponents all agreed that it would be a disaster from start to finish, the law's supporters were slightly less unanimous, if nevertheless optimistic. Most figured that though there would probably be problems here and there, by and large the law would work as it was intended, enabling millions of uninsured Americans to get coverage and providing all of us a level of health security we hadn't known before.
And that's what has happened. But there was one other assumption among the supporters that's worth examining anew, now that most of us agree the law isn't going to be repealed. Like every large and complex piece of social legislation, it was said, the ACA would have to be tweaked and adjusted over time. For instance, when it was passed in 1935, Social Security excluded agricultural and domestic workers, just coincidentally shutting most African-Americans out of the program. Those workers were added later on, and other changes were made as well, like adding cost of living adjustments to account for inflation. Medicare, too, has undergone changes both large (like adding a prescription drug benefit) and small. So what are the possibilities for adjusting the ACA in the near future? In the current atmosphere—one not just of intense partisanship, but one in which one party has made venomous opposition to this law the very core of its political identity—can we hope to actually fix the things about the law that might need fixing?
The administration has already made some changes to the law using its executive authority. Most notably, it has delayed the employer mandate; as it stands now, the mandate won't fully take effect until 2016. As it happens, few people are particularly enthused with the employer mandate in its current form; conservatives have never liked it, and more than a few liberals have their doubts about it. As Mike Konczal recently explained, there's an alternative:
The employer mandate has been another major roadblock for the ACA. The current "Obamacare" plan requires employers with more than 50 full-time workers to pay a part of the health care costs for employees who work more than 30 hours a week, or pay a fine. This is unpopular with employers, and it fuels larger worries that workers are getting their hours capped or that expanding businesses are hitting a major road bump the moment they reach 50 employees.
As the Roosevelt Institute's Richard Kirsch writes, the way the final House bill tackled this issue was much smarter: Under the House plan, employers that didn't provide health care to their employees would pay a percentage of payroll as a tax to cover health care. Consequently, there would be no incentive to juke the number of new hires or their hours. Also, current health insurance premiums don't vary according to an employee's income, which discourages employers from hiring lower-wage workers. Charging a percentage of payroll for coverage would help companies cover the costs even as the system moves towards the exchanges.
If you were a Republican who cared about this issue, this would be a perfect opportunity to change the law in a way you'd like. It wouldn't be giving up something to get half a loaf, it'd be giving up nothing to get half a loaf. Democrats and Republicans could agree to change the mandate, whether it's to more closely resemble the original House version of the bill, or something else. I'm sure that creative legislators could come up with any number of ways to produce the maximum number of people with employer-sponsored coverage—or even, now that the exchanges seem to be working quite well, devise a new way for employees to use them without employers just getting off the hook for providing coverage.
But we all understand the present reality, which is that no Republican is willing to work with Democrats to improve the ACA, even in ways that address particular complaints conservatives have about the law, because that's considered collaboration with the enemy and would guarantee you the wrath of the Tea Party and a primary challenge from the right. Within the GOP, changing the law for the better is actually thought to be a terrible sin, while making futile gestures in opposition to the law while tacitly accepting its existence in its current form is thought to be the height of ideological integrity.
It's possible that over time, as the repeal fantasy looks more and more ridiculous, Republicans will begin to grow more open to legislation making changes to the ACA to improve its operation. That's what logic would dictate, but anything other than fist-shaking opposition to the ACA may remain politically toxic for a long time in the GOP.
But maybe there's something Democrats can do to affect that conversation. It's easy for them to just say: "If Republicans really cared about improving people's lives they'd join with us to make improvements, but instead they'd rather just have talking points." It's even true. But that doesn't get you anywhere. So perhaps Democrats could try getting more specific. They could come up with whatever they think is the best way to deal with a weakness in the law, like the current form of the employer mandate. Turn that into a bill. Start moving it through the legislative process in the Senate. Force Republicans to answer specific questions about it, like: "Congressman, you've criticized the current employer mandate. Tell me why you think this new proposal isn't an improvement."
I'm not naïve enough to think that all Republican opposition to improving the ACA is going to melt before the power of those questions. But it only helps Republicans if they can stay vague in their discussions of the law. The more specific the discussion gets, the harder it is for them. And at least you could introduce the idea of Republicans joining with Democrats to improve the law, which is something barely anyone has brought up until now. Reported by The American Prospect 5 hours ago.
And that's what has happened. But there was one other assumption among the supporters that's worth examining anew, now that most of us agree the law isn't going to be repealed. Like every large and complex piece of social legislation, it was said, the ACA would have to be tweaked and adjusted over time. For instance, when it was passed in 1935, Social Security excluded agricultural and domestic workers, just coincidentally shutting most African-Americans out of the program. Those workers were added later on, and other changes were made as well, like adding cost of living adjustments to account for inflation. Medicare, too, has undergone changes both large (like adding a prescription drug benefit) and small. So what are the possibilities for adjusting the ACA in the near future? In the current atmosphere—one not just of intense partisanship, but one in which one party has made venomous opposition to this law the very core of its political identity—can we hope to actually fix the things about the law that might need fixing?
The administration has already made some changes to the law using its executive authority. Most notably, it has delayed the employer mandate; as it stands now, the mandate won't fully take effect until 2016. As it happens, few people are particularly enthused with the employer mandate in its current form; conservatives have never liked it, and more than a few liberals have their doubts about it. As Mike Konczal recently explained, there's an alternative:
The employer mandate has been another major roadblock for the ACA. The current "Obamacare" plan requires employers with more than 50 full-time workers to pay a part of the health care costs for employees who work more than 30 hours a week, or pay a fine. This is unpopular with employers, and it fuels larger worries that workers are getting their hours capped or that expanding businesses are hitting a major road bump the moment they reach 50 employees.
As the Roosevelt Institute's Richard Kirsch writes, the way the final House bill tackled this issue was much smarter: Under the House plan, employers that didn't provide health care to their employees would pay a percentage of payroll as a tax to cover health care. Consequently, there would be no incentive to juke the number of new hires or their hours. Also, current health insurance premiums don't vary according to an employee's income, which discourages employers from hiring lower-wage workers. Charging a percentage of payroll for coverage would help companies cover the costs even as the system moves towards the exchanges.
If you were a Republican who cared about this issue, this would be a perfect opportunity to change the law in a way you'd like. It wouldn't be giving up something to get half a loaf, it'd be giving up nothing to get half a loaf. Democrats and Republicans could agree to change the mandate, whether it's to more closely resemble the original House version of the bill, or something else. I'm sure that creative legislators could come up with any number of ways to produce the maximum number of people with employer-sponsored coverage—or even, now that the exchanges seem to be working quite well, devise a new way for employees to use them without employers just getting off the hook for providing coverage.
But we all understand the present reality, which is that no Republican is willing to work with Democrats to improve the ACA, even in ways that address particular complaints conservatives have about the law, because that's considered collaboration with the enemy and would guarantee you the wrath of the Tea Party and a primary challenge from the right. Within the GOP, changing the law for the better is actually thought to be a terrible sin, while making futile gestures in opposition to the law while tacitly accepting its existence in its current form is thought to be the height of ideological integrity.
It's possible that over time, as the repeal fantasy looks more and more ridiculous, Republicans will begin to grow more open to legislation making changes to the ACA to improve its operation. That's what logic would dictate, but anything other than fist-shaking opposition to the ACA may remain politically toxic for a long time in the GOP.
But maybe there's something Democrats can do to affect that conversation. It's easy for them to just say: "If Republicans really cared about improving people's lives they'd join with us to make improvements, but instead they'd rather just have talking points." It's even true. But that doesn't get you anywhere. So perhaps Democrats could try getting more specific. They could come up with whatever they think is the best way to deal with a weakness in the law, like the current form of the employer mandate. Turn that into a bill. Start moving it through the legislative process in the Senate. Force Republicans to answer specific questions about it, like: "Congressman, you've criticized the current employer mandate. Tell me why you think this new proposal isn't an improvement."
I'm not naïve enough to think that all Republican opposition to improving the ACA is going to melt before the power of those questions. But it only helps Republicans if they can stay vague in their discussions of the law. The more specific the discussion gets, the harder it is for them. And at least you could introduce the idea of Republicans joining with Democrats to improve the law, which is something barely anyone has brought up until now. Reported by The American Prospect 5 hours ago.
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Health Insurance May Not Be Affordable for All
Health Insurance May Not Be Affordable for All
Reported by ajc.com 7 hours ago.
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USF gets $5.4M grant to aid health care enrollment
The University of South Florida has received a nearly $5.4 million grant to help consumers enroll in the federal health insurance marketplace. The grant to support health care “navigators” was the largest awarded to any entity in the country, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, said in a statement. Additionally, in separate grants, the Epilepsy Foundation was awarded $871,275 and the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners was awarded $535,156. The grants are part of $60 million given to support…
Reported by bizjournals 1 day ago.
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InventHelp® Client Develops Keyboard for Medical Data Entry (BTM-2076)
InventHelp, America's leading inventor service company, attempts to submit an invention, ICD-10 Keyboard, to companies for review.
Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) September 09, 2014
"In 2014, the whole ICD code set across the nation is changing to alphanumeric," said an inventor from Bridgeville, Del. "This will greatly impact the time it takes to enter codes into computers. In order not to waste time, I came up with a better keyboard for entering the codes."
She developed the ICD-10 KEYBOARD to make it easier to lay in diagnostic codes and procedure codes. The design saves time and effort, and eliminates hassles and frustrations. The keyboard is adaptable for use with any computer. The unit is designed for ease of use. Additionally, it can be used one-handed. It's ideal for hospitality, physician offices, clearing houses, pharmacies, health insurance companies, billing companies, any health company, etc.
The original design was submitted to the Baltimore office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 13-BTM-2076, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com - h ttps://http://www.youtube.com/user/inventhelp Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) September 09, 2014
"In 2014, the whole ICD code set across the nation is changing to alphanumeric," said an inventor from Bridgeville, Del. "This will greatly impact the time it takes to enter codes into computers. In order not to waste time, I came up with a better keyboard for entering the codes."
She developed the ICD-10 KEYBOARD to make it easier to lay in diagnostic codes and procedure codes. The design saves time and effort, and eliminates hassles and frustrations. The keyboard is adaptable for use with any computer. The unit is designed for ease of use. Additionally, it can be used one-handed. It's ideal for hospitality, physician offices, clearing houses, pharmacies, health insurance companies, billing companies, any health company, etc.
The original design was submitted to the Baltimore office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 13-BTM-2076, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com - h ttps://http://www.youtube.com/user/inventhelp Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
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Zane Benefits Publishes New information on Premium Reimbursement for Individual Health Insurance
New information available for premium reimbursement of individual health insurance.
Park City, UT (PRWEB) September 09, 2014
Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, published new information on the premium reimbursement of individual health insurance.
According to Zane Benefits, With open enrollment coming up fast, many employers are searching for an alternative to the high costs of group health insurance.
For these employers, the emerging solution is premium reimbursement for individual health insurance. While this solution is not new, the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) changes have created advantages to individual health insurance that will make this a pivotal time for healthcare benefits.
Click here to read the full article.
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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, was founded in 2006 to revolutionize the way employers provide employee health benefits in America. We empower employees to take control over their own healthcare, while helping employers recruit and retain the best talent. Our online solutions allow small and medium-sized businesses to successfully transition to a health benefits program that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up more time to serve their customers. For more information about ZaneHealth, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.
Park City, UT (PRWEB) September 09, 2014
Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, published new information on the premium reimbursement of individual health insurance.
According to Zane Benefits, With open enrollment coming up fast, many employers are searching for an alternative to the high costs of group health insurance.
For these employers, the emerging solution is premium reimbursement for individual health insurance. While this solution is not new, the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) changes have created advantages to individual health insurance that will make this a pivotal time for healthcare benefits.
Click here to read the full article.
--
About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, was founded in 2006 to revolutionize the way employers provide employee health benefits in America. We empower employees to take control over their own healthcare, while helping employers recruit and retain the best talent. Our online solutions allow small and medium-sized businesses to successfully transition to a health benefits program that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up more time to serve their customers. For more information about ZaneHealth, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.
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The simple ways health insurance can change your life
The hospital was a short drive into town. She intended to savor this moment by tending to her animals. Her colonoscopy was in an hour.
She walked through the kitchen and into the sprawling back yard, her new medical insurance card stowed in her pocket. Her silver rings and necklace sat in the house. She wasn’t looking forward to a camera poking around in her large intestine. But she was overdue for it. She was 54. Her stomach had hurt for months and she had avoided seeing a doctor for years. But now she had insurance. Reported by Washington Post 13 hours ago.
She walked through the kitchen and into the sprawling back yard, her new medical insurance card stowed in her pocket. Her silver rings and necklace sat in the house. She wasn’t looking forward to a camera poking around in her large intestine. But she was overdue for it. She was 54. Her stomach had hurt for months and she had avoided seeing a doctor for years. But now she had insurance. Reported by Washington Post 13 hours ago.
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Alcoa, others, moving some retirees to exchanges
Alcoa Inc. is sending its white-collar retirees to a private exchange to shop for health insurance as the aluminum maker joins the growing ranks of large companies looking for ways to control benefit costs.
Reported by Miami Herald 21 hours ago.
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