Earlier this week, in Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York v. Sebelius, U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan in the Eastern District of New York permanently enjoined the government from enforcing regulations mandating coverage for contraceptive and sterilization services by religious organization health plans.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires health insurance plans
(This post was authored by Heather Harrison, an associate in the Labor & Employment practice at Farrell Fritz)
Although key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) have been delayed until 2015, one important notice requirement is just around the corner. By October 1, 2013, virtually all employers must provide
Is your office photocopy machine a HIPAA time-bomb? Affinity Health Plan recently learned that the answer is yes, to the tune of a $1.2 million settlement with the US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Affinity is a not-for-profit managed care organization which includes one of the New York metropolitan
On May 29, 2013, the US Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury issued final regulations regarding wellness programs under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”). Wellness programs are programs offered by employers, or directly by insurance companies to their enrollees, to improve health and promote fitness. The ACA, in
The New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General today announced their new Facebook page. This could be the only time anyone in the health care industry might consider a declaration that they “like” the OMIG.
While a Facebook page may appear unusual for this less-than-beloved agency, the OMIG’s office has made several
The Office for Civil Rights of the US Department of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (“WEDI”), has announced a series of four free webinars on compliance with the latest Omnibus HIPAA/HITECH final rule, which implements significant changes in the requirements imposed upon health care organizations, providers, and
Over fifty cases across the country have challenged regulations promulgated under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA” or “Obamacare”) that require employer group health insurance plans to provide coverage for contraception, sterilization and related counseling (the “HHS Mandate”). Suits have been filed by religiously-affiliated organizations as well as private business owners, asserting that
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued final rule stating the future health insurance exchange (“Exchange”) and insurance issuer standards related to coverage of essential health benefits (EHB) and actuarial value. The final rule further establishes a timeline for when qualified health plans (QHPs) should be accredited in federally facilitated Exchanges.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) released final rules on January 17, 2013 governing the privacy and security of protected health information under HIPAA and the HITECH Act. The new rules take effect March 26, 2013; compliance is expected by September 23, 2013. This post will focus
As Chris Kutner explained in his January 4, 2013 post, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“PPACA” or “Obama Care”) requires, beginning in 2014, that employers with 50 or more full-time employees (“large employers”) offer “affordable” health insurance to their employees. Failure to do so will subject the employer to penalties.