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PowerNotes: October, 2011

CLASS Dismissed: Obama Administration Pulls Plug On Long-Term Care Program
Federal officials on Friday effectively shut down part of the health care law that would have helped consumers cover some long-term-care costs, saying they could not find a way to make it work financially.

Although there has been talk of ressurecting it in some form, if you were thinking of steering your group to this Long Term Care option, you probably need to look again at traditional LTC providers.

In case you missed it:

Health Care Reform: The top 6 things you might not know about health care reform, but should.

National Legislative Updates

  • The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has delayed the compliance deadline for the Notice of Employee Rights under the NLRA. The original compliance deadline was November 14, 2011. The new compliance deadline for posting is January 31, 2012. (Read more.)
  • The Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that it is postponing the 2011 VETS-100/VETS-100A forms filing date for federal contractors. Contractors will have up to 60 days from the time the system is operation to submit their report, which is expected to begin on November 1, 2011 and end December 30, 2011. (Read more.)

State Updates

  • Wisconsin Department of Justice is implementing the concealed carry law, which goes into effect on November 1, 2011. (Read more.)

Physicians on Health Care Reform: Frustration and Dismay in a Time of Change

The 2011 Thompson Reuters HCPlexus National Physicians Survey was conducted with 2,958 physicians in the US in September 2010, follow-up information was gathered in December 2010 and January 2011. Physicians were asked to respond to a series of questions: the quality of health care in the near future in light of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the impact of Electronic Medical Records (EMR), and the specific consequences both physicians and patients may encounter because of the PPACA – also known as the Health Care Reform Act of 2010 (HCRA) legislation.

The results of this National Physician Survey convey a general negative sentiment among physicians regarding health care reform.

Read the Executive Summary.

Common Flu Vaccine Myths

Myth: The flu isn’t so bad.

Fact: The flu can lead to serious illness, even in otherwise healthy people. At the very least, it can keep you out of work for several days.

Myth: The flu vaccine will make you sick.

Fact: The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu. You may feel mild side effects, such as a sore arm, low fever or achiness.

Myth: It’s too late in the season to get protection from a flu vaccine.

Fact: As long as flu season isn’t over, it’s not too late to get vaccinated. Flu season can last from fall until late spring.

Myth: The discomfort of getting a shot isn’t worth it.

Fact: The minor pain of a flu shot is nothing compared to suffering from the flu. Plus, you may be eligible to receive a nasal-spray vaccine in lieu of a shot. Ask your doctor if that is the right option for you.

Myth: If you got the vaccine last year, you don’t need to get another one.

Fact: Research shows that your body’s immunity from the flu vaccine declines throughout the year, so you likely don’t have enough immunity left to protect against the flu. You should get vaccinated each year.

Myth: The vaccine isn’t safe.

Fact: Flu vaccines have been given for more than 50 years and have a very good safety track record. Their safety is closely monitored each year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.

(Download the Common Flu Vaccine Myths 11×17 Poster.)

The top 6 things you might not know about health care reform, but should

(From Employee Benefit News)

In July, EBN issued the PPACA Challenge, a 30-question quiz designed to test benefits professionals’ knowledge of the landmark health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Of the hundreds of practitioners who took the quiz, there were six questions that stumped you most often.

True or False: PPACA’s rules regarding wellness programs do not apply to grandfathered plans?

Answer: TRUE

True or False: States will be free to limit which employers are allowed to purchase insurance through state health insurance exchanges?

Answer: TRUE

True or False: Under the current law, large employers will not be allowed to offer insurance through state health exchanges?

Answer: FALSE. States may allow large employers to offer health coverage through an exchange in 2017.

PPACA’s Claims Review Rules do not apply to:

A) Health plans that are grandfathered plans

B) Plans with less than two current employees participating in the plan on the first day of the plan year (e.g., stand-alone retiree-only plans)

C) Non-health plans, such as disability and retirement plans

D) All of the above

Answer: D.

True or False: For plans beginning Jan. 1, 2014, PPACA requires that limits on the annual out-of-pocket maximum imposed by group health plans be the same as those imposed on HSA-compatible HDHPs.

Answer: True.

Employers with plans beginning Jan. 1, 2014 must offer affordable coverage to employees working how many hours per week?

A) 25

B) 30

C) 35

D) 40

Answer: B.


w Rules do not apply to: