ACA Title 1, Sec. 1563. Sense of the senate promoting fiscal responsibility: “Ugly” – No way is this Law going to reduce the federal deficit. This section is the explicit statement by Congressional sponsors of the expectation that the ACA will reduce the $17+ trillion federal deficit between 2010 and 2019 and improve the solvency of the Medicare Part A Trust Fund. I am sorry, but somebody is definitely smoking something. This is a huge case of wishful thinking with somebody else’s money. The net economic effect of the ACA as it currently stands will be to significantly increase the deficit and the insolvency of the Medicare program. It does not take a PHD economist to recognize that significant expansion of health insurance coverage without adequate cost controls will not lead to lower total health costs, no matter how creative your accounting practices are. Shame on you CBO!

Please let others know about this blog and have them “follow” @WellnessCzar on Twitter for the section topics. This information is also available in summary PDF form by making a request to [email protected].

ACA Title 1, Sec. 1560. Rules of construction: “Good” – helps establish clarity in Law’s impact in four collateral areas.Lawmakers clarify here that no part of the ACA negates any of the antitrust laws, counters the ERISA exemption of the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act, prevent any institution of high education from offering student health insurance plans or modify the requirements on state agencies responsible for Medicaid and CHIP Programs. This is a typical kind of legislative provision to help resolve unforeseen construction or applicability issues.

Please let others know about this blog and have them “follow” @Wellness Czar on Twitter for the section topics. This information is also available in summary PDF form by making a request to [email protected].

ACA Title 1, Sec. 1559. Oversight: “Good” – General authorization of Inspector General’s role in ACA. This provision recognizes that the Inspector General of the DHHS has administrative oversight over the Department’s role in the administration and implementation of the Law. This is a general intention statement on the part of the Congress related to the function of oversight of departmental activities. Standard item in most domestic legislation.

Please let others know about this blog and have them “follow” @Wellness Czar on Twitter for the section topics. This information is also available in summary PDF form by making a request to [email protected].

ACA Title 1, Sec 1558. Protections for employees: “Good” – Provides general protection to employees. This provision provides general protection to employees that utilize either premium credits or subsidies under the ACA. This statutory provision prohibits employers from discharging an employee because of their use of these features of the ACA. Seems like a way to prevent an employer from firing employees that utilize the credits or subsidies included in the Act. Would be better balanced if it also protected employers from employees that make intentional or unintentional misstatements about their coverage.

Please let others know about this blog and have them “follow” @Wellness Czar on Twitter for the section topics. This information is also available in summary PDF form by making a request to [email protected].

ACA Title 1, Sec 1557. Nondiscrimination: “Good” – a general prohibition against discrimination. This provision prohibits discriminatory actions under any aspect of the ACA and links to complaint and accountability provisions of civil rights, age, and disabilities discrimination laws. “Good” because it uses the existing federal administrative machinery to provide a recourse in the event of discriminatory practices rather than set up a whole new administrative structure for addressing discrimination issues under the Law.

Please let others know about this blog and have them “follow” @Wellness Czar on Twitter for the section topics. This information is also available in summary PDF form by making a request to [email protected].

ACA Title 1, Sec. 1556. Equity for certain eligible survivors. “Good” – Provides continuity of coverage for those with “black lung” conditions associated with coal mining. This provision allows those grand fathered with “black lung” coverage to be included under the applicable provisions of the ACA. This appears to be a continuity of coverage provision extending the ability of those with “black lung” conditions to be covered under health plans authorized by the Law. Good for resolving issues of coverage for this special group. From a government efficiency standpoint it would seem to be advantageous to eliminate all separate aspects of “Black Lung Benefits” and incorporate them under the provisions of the ACA.

Please let others know about this blog and have them “follow” @Wellness Czar on Twitter for the section topics. This information is also available in summary PDF form by making a request to [email protected].

ACA Title 1, Sec. 1555. Freedom not to participate in federal health insurance programs: “Good” – prevents coercion of health plan providers. This section provides a basic statement that prohibits any penalty or fine to any entity that offers health insurance and chooses not to participate in any federal health insurance program. However, one could argue that given the extensive involvement of federal health insurance programs in the financing of health care in the U.S. that not participating represents a “death wish” on the part of any health plan. Perhaps a somewhat perfunctory qualification.

Please let others know about this blog and have them “follow” @Wellness Czar on Twitter for the section topics. This information is also available in summary PDF form by making a request to [email protected].