"[T]his bulletin [establishes] the submission deadlines ... for health insurance issuers applying to offer qualified health plans (QHPs) on the Federally-facilitated Exchanges (FFEs).... The dates in this bulletin apply to all states in which an FFE operates ... Some of the dates included in this bulletin also apply to issuers in State-based Exchanges on the Federal Platform (SBE-FPs); ... New for PY2023, CMS will no longer establish a separate submission deadline for issuers to request changes to their service area."  MORE >>

"The original guidance left several questions unanswered concerning delivery of at-home tests and what effect shortages of tests might have on plan sponsors. The [February 4 FAQs] outline how plans can comply with the original mandate but grant latitude to deal with testing kit scarcity and other issues."  MORE >>

"The act was set to remain in effect until April 1, 2022, or until the exhaustion of $100 million in program funds, whichever came first. On February 28, 2022, the Commonwealth announced that the act will end on March 15, 2022."  MORE >>

"Since applications for reimbursement from the program fund have reached $85 million, the program will end ... on March 15, 2022.... [The] deadline for employers to apply for reimbursement [is] April 29, 2022. Employers should notify employees of the program's end date and submit any outstanding reimbursements[.]"  MORE >>

"Over the past decade, an increasing number of employers have ... [used] the government's Medicare Advantage program as an alternative to their existing retiree health plan and traditional Medicare coverage. Employers and insurers negotiate behind closed doors to design a private Medicare Advantage plan available only to retirees from that employer. Then, just as it does for private individuals choosing a Medicare Advantage plan, the federal government pays the insurer a set amount for each person in the plan."  MORE >>

"This alert will discuss administration and congressional action on SUD and mental health policies and identify key policy areas to watch over the next year.... Issues to watch ... [2] Telehealth expansion ... [2] Mental health parity ... [3] Substance use disorder ... [4] Youth mental health."  MORE >>

"in 2019, about 866,000 Part D enrollees without access to the program's low-income subsidy program would have benefited from the introduction of a $2,000 spending cap for prescription drugs. These enrollees would have saved $900 on average.... [I]mplementing such an enrollment cap would have raised overall drug spending by about $782 million in 2019 and would raise Medicare Part D expenditures by less than 1 percent of total Part D spending in that year."  MORE >>