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The Obama Administration published final regulations on July 14, 2015 that implement Affordable Care Act requirements regarding coverage without cost sharing of certain preventive services, including contraceptive services. The regulations, jointly issued by the Departments of Health, Labor, and Treasury, finalize three earlier rulemakings:
Continue Reading Obama Administration Finalizes Regulations on ACA Coverage of Preventive Services, Including Contraceptive Services

The Obama Administration has issued two regulations addressing coverage of contraceptive services under QHPs in response to recent court rulings (in particular the Supreme Court ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.) addressing certain religious objections to such coverage. First, an interim final rule provides an additional pathway for nonprofit organizations eligible for a…

HHS, together with the Departments of Treasury and Labor, published a final rule on July 2, 2013 that modifies the Administration’s policy on the extent to which group health plans established by certain religious employers must cover contraceptive services without cost sharing. In short, the rule is intended to simplify the definition of a “religious…

CMS has scheduled an August 15, 2015 national provider call on new Medicare preventive services. The call will cover the following five benefits: Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions in Primary Care to Reduce Alcohol Misuse; Screening for Depression in Adults; Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease; Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and High-Intensity Behavioral…

As previously reported, last month HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that certain religious employers who currently do not provide coverage for contraceptive services under their insurance plan will be required to do so beginning August 1, 2013. An exception from the mandate was provided only to non-profit religious employers that: have the inculcation of religious…

On August 3, 2011, the HHS published an interim final rule with comment period amending rules regarding coverage of certain preventive services by group health plans and health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets under the ACA. As previously reported, HHS announced earlier this month that health plans will be required to furnish…

CMS is hosting a provider call on July 21, 2011 to provide an overview of Medicare coverage for an Initial Preventive Physical Examination (commonly known as the “Welcome to Medicare” Visit) and the Affordable Care Act’s Annual Wellness Visit. Registration for the call will close at 1:30 pm on July 20 or when available space…

The National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council has released its final “National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy,” as mandated by the ACA. The strategy identifies four “strategic directions” for improving the nation’s health: building healthy and safe community environments; expanding quality preventive services in both clinical and community settings; empowering people to make…

On May 4, 2011, CMS published a proposed rule that would require certain Medicare and Medicaid providers and suppliers to offer all patients an annual influenza vaccination, unless medically contraindicated or unless the patient (or patient’s representative or surrogate) declines vaccination. The requirement would apply to the following entities: hospitals (all types that participate in Medicare); …

On December 28, 2010, the Obama Administration published a request for information regarding how group health plans and health insurance issuers can employ value-based insurance design in the coverage of recommended preventive services. The notice seeks information on, among other issues: specific plan design tools to incentivize patient behavior; how to identify high-value treatment…

On December 2, 2010, HHS released “Healthy People 2020,” which sets forth new 10-year goals and objectives for national health promotion and disease prevention. The document includes a greater focus on identifying, measuring, tracking, and reducing health disparities through a “determinants of health” approach that examines the range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors…