The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 proposed rule for hospice reimbursements that would provide for a 2.3 percent payment increase. The agency also included a new quality reporting program in its proposed rule – requiring hospices to submit data on two quality measures beginning in 2014 with payment reductions as a penalty for non-compliance. …
Read More Healthcare Update: CMS Releases FY 2012 Proposed Rule for Hospice Payments, Including Face-To-Face Language; CMS Releases Final Value-Based Purchasing Rule; Legislation Introduced Regarding Treatment of Hospice Patients; ACO News

The English High court has approved a scheme of arrangement for a company incorporated in Germany which had its centre of main interests in Germany, no establishment in the UK and no assets in the UK likely to be affected by the scheme. …
Read More UK: High Court Approves Scheme of Arrangement for Rodenstock – a German Company

In Mujur Bakat Sdn Bhd v Uni. Asia General Insurance Berhad & Ors [2011] EWHC 643 (Comm), the Claimants were the owners of a vessel called the M/V MUJUR 1 (the Vessel) and the Defendants were various underwriters which had underwritten a marine hull and machinery policy in respect of the Vessel (the Policy). The Policy was expressly stated to be governed by English law. …
Read More UK: High Court Rules on Proper Forum for Marine Insurance Claim

In Axa Sun Life Services v Campbell Martin [2011] EWCA Civ 133, the Court of Appeal reviewed standard appointed representative agreements entered into between Axa and several different companies. The appointed representatives claimed Axa had misrepresented the nature of the agreements and given collateral warranties, and both the misrepresentations and the warranties had induced them to enter into the agreements. …
Read More UK: Court of Appeal Reviews Entire Agreement Clauses

On 5 May 2011, the European Commission published a summary of responses to its consultation on the level 2 implementing measures for the Solvency II directive (please click here for a link to the summary). …
Read More UK: Solvency II Consultation – European Commission Publishes Summary of Responses

The U.S. Re Under 40s Group’s next event – What Aftershocks Will the (Re)Insurance Industry See from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami? – will take place on May 25 in Swiss Re’s midtown office. …
Read More Don’t Miss the U.S. Re Under 40s Group’s Next Event – What Aftershocks Will the (Re)Insurance Industry See from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami?

Following on the heels of double digit health insurance rate approvals last year, the Connecticut Legislature is considering S.B. 11, An Act Concerning the Rate Approval Process for Certain Health Insurance Policies, which would expand the current rate approval process administered by the Connecticut Department of Insurance (the “Department”). …
Read More Proposed Connecticut Law Requires Public Hearings for Health and Long-Term Care Rate Increases of 10% or More