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… Continue Reading ›

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… Continue Reading ›

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… Continue Reading ›

ACA Title 1, Sec. 1554. Access to therapies: “Good” – although somewhat inoperable platitudes. This section contains the following platitudes about the Secretary of HHS not publishing any regulations implementing the Law that…. (1) creates any unreasonable barriers to the ability of individuals to obtain appropriate medical care; (2) impedes timely access to health care services;… Continue Reading ›

ACA Title 1, Sec. 1553. Prohibition against discrimination on assisted suicide: “Good” – Prevents punishment of those who refuse to assist in suicide or abortion. This provision is a basic protection for health care providers and health facilities to minimize their legal and civil liability if they refuse to cooperate with any effort that is designed… Continue Reading ›

ACA Title 1, Sec 1552. Transparency in government: “Good” – but essentially meaningless. This section requires the Secretary to publish on the department’s website a list of all the authorities provided to the Secretary by this Law. Perhaps a symbolic gesture because of the complexity and number of legislative initiatives (450+) contained in the Law. Please… Continue Reading ›

ACA Title 1, Sec. 1515. Offering of exchange-participating qualified health plans through cafeteria plans: “Ugly” – Why exclude them? This provision does not make sense to me. It prohibits employers from offering “certain” exchange-participating qualified health plans from being offered through a Section 125 Cafeteria plan. I don’t understand why. Wouldn’t you want qualified health plans… Continue Reading ›

ACA Title 1, Sec. 1514. Reporting of employer health insurance coverage: “Good” – Requires reporting of covered population. This provision is a reasonable requirement for all employers, not just “large” employers. If from a societal perspective we value health insurance coverage it makes sense to put in place a means of measuring it. The coverage information… Continue Reading ›

ACA Title 1, Sec. 1511. Automatic enrollment for employees of large employers: “Good” – Improves extent of coverage. This provision assures an automatic process for covering all employees of organizations with more than 200 employees who provide health insurance coverage. This is good in that it should assist in eliminating interruptions in coverage sometimes associated with… Continue Reading ›

ACA Title 1, Sec. 1502. Reporting of health insurance coverage: “Good” – Required for implementation. This section establishes the authority for reporting of health insurance coverage information which is good, but it also requires a new and extensive reporting requirement for all employers, individuals and governmental entities. The shear flow of paper and information will be… Continue Reading ›