Healthcare matters remained highly relevant throughout the month of September, as comments were released on important home health regulations, as a lawsuit appeared likely to move forward, and as lawmakers and the President marked the six-month anniversary of the new healthcare reform law.
Read More Healthcare News from Capitol Hill and the Department of Health and Human Services – September 27, 2010
Federal Legislative Developments
NAIC Representative Selected for Financial Stability Oversight Council
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has selected Missouri Insurance Director John Huff as its representative on the new Financial Stability Oversight Council (the “FSOC”), which was created under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). …
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The Dodd-Frank Act: The U.S. Government Turns its Attention to Insurance Regulation
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
(This is a partial excerpt of an article previously published in Bloomberg Insurance Law Report available here.) The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act)1 is the latest development in the ongoing saga of state versus federal regulation of insurance. Unlike other major industries, insurance is still primarily and almost exclusively regulated by the states – and the states have long been vigilant about keeping it that way. …
Read More The Dodd-Frank Act: The U.S. Government Turns its Attention to Insurance Regulation
Congress Passes One-Year Extension for National Flood Insurance Program
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
As we previously reported here, earlier this week the U.S. Senate passed the Flood Insurance Program Reextension Act of 2010 (S. 3814) (the “Act”) to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”) from September 30, 2010 to September 30, 2011. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Act yesterday. The Act is expected to be signed by President Obama shortly. …
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U.S. Senate Passes One-Year Extension for National Flood Insurance Program
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
As we previously reported here, the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”) will expire on September 30, 2010. In an effort to halt a series of short-term extensions occurring since 2008, last night the U.S. Senate passed the Flood Insurance Program Reextension Act of 2010 (S. 3814) (the “Act”) to extend the NFIP to September 30, 2011. The Act is sponsored by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) …
Read More U.S. Senate Passes One-Year Extension for National Flood Insurance Program
Healthcare News from Capitol Hill and the Department of Health and Human Services – September 13, 2010
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
In early September, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that seeks to repeal specific elements of Medicaid prescription drug regulations that were published in 2007. …
Read More Healthcare News from Capitol Hill and the Department of Health and Human Services – September 13, 2010
Healthcare News from Capitol Hill and the Department of Health and Human Services – August 30, 2010
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on August 18 that states have until September 24 to request an extension of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) – the federal government’s share of Medicaid funding. …
Read More Healthcare News from Capitol Hill and the Department of Health and Human Services – August 30, 2010
Healthcare News from Capitol Hill and the Department of Health and Human Services – August 9, 2010
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
CMS PROPOSES CHANGES TO “36 MONTH RULE” FOR HOME HEALTH: In late July, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule for the Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Rate Update for Calendar Year 2011. As anticipated, the proposed rule promulgates changes to the so-called “36 month rule” for home health agencies (HHAs) that went into effect in January 2010. …
Read More Healthcare News from Capitol Hill and the Department of Health and Human Services – August 9, 2010
New Senate Bill Introduced That Will Expand Authority of The Federal Trade Commission to Monitor Insurers
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
On August 2, 2010, United States Senators Mark Pryor (Ark.-D) and John D. Rockefeller IV (W.V.-D) introduced the Insurance Competition and Transparency Act of 2010 (S. 3685), which will remove restrictions on the Federal Trade Commission’s (the “FTC”) authority to review market activity in the insurance industry. S. 3685 was referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance. …
Read More New Senate Bill Introduced That Will Expand Authority of The Federal Trade Commission to Monitor Insurers
Legislation Introduced into the House that Mandates Certain Disclosures to Beneficiaries of Life Insurance for Military Personnel
On the heels of an investigation by the Attorney General of New York Andrew Cuomo regarding the use of retained asset accounts[1] by life insurers, United States House Representative Deborah Halvorson (Ill.-D) recently introduced legislation that would require, among other things, beneficiaries of the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program to receive financial counseling and disclosure information regarding life insurance payments. …
Read More Legislation Introduced into the House that Mandates Certain Disclosures to Beneficiaries of Life Insurance for Military Personnel