Updates matching "Massachusetts"

2012 promises to be active and challenging. Congress is scheduled to reconvene on January 23, while 40 state legislatures start sessions this month. Battles over federal spending and deficit reduction are expected to dominate the Congressional agenda while states continue to struggle with meeting their own budget targets. The Affordable

Federal Update On December 16, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an advisory bulletin outlining policy direction for states on the essential benefits package. Although the bulletin does not have the force of law, it gives states important guidance as they move

Federal Update Prevention and Public Health Fund Lobby Day Today, more than 40 leading groups from the public health community, including ACS CAN, are on Capitol Hill participating in more than 70 meetings with members of Congress to remind them of the importance of

Federal Update Medical Loss Ratio The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to spend at least 80 percent of their premium revenue on health care claims and quality improvement costs. Beginning this year, insurers who miss the target are required to rebate the difference to

CANCER RESEARCH AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS Super Committee Shortly before its November 23 deadline, the bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, better known as the "super committee," announced it was unable to devise a deficit reduction plan that a majority of

Federal Update Super Committee Shortly before its November 23 deadline, the bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, better known as the "super committee," announced it was unable to devise a deficit reduction plan that a majority of the committee's members could support. Under

Note: There will be no update next week due to Thanksgiving. Litigation The Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will hear arguments in lawsuits challenging the Affordable Care Act. The announcement signals that the nation could receive the clarity

State Update Society Division and ACS CAN government relations staff placed calls Friday to nearly 30 state insurance commissioners across the country, reminding them to make the interests of consumers and patients a top priority when making decisions about the medical loss ratio (MLR). The calls were in response

Federal Update Final Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Rule Released The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) late last week released the final rule for the Affordable Care Act's key health care delivery reform -- Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs are groups