Now that the vote on the American Healthcare Act has been withdrawn, and its return highly unlikely, it would appear that the Affordable Care Act will continue to be the …
2017
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When news broke last week that the Affordable Care Act would no longer be repealed and replaced, it signified an end to the waiting game on the fate of America’s …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Another Attempt to Repeal the ACA in the Foreseeable Future? Unlikely.
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIt’s been more than seven years since the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and there were some 60 plus attempts to repeal by Republicans during …
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Affordable Care Act
Businesses Need to Make Affordable Care Act Filings with the IRS by March 31 or Request an Automatic Extension
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenSome businesses may have suffered from wishful thinking when the legislation to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was proposed by Speaker Ryan and trumpeted …
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Affordable Care ActAmerican Health Care Act (AHCA)
Breaking: Affordable Care Act Will Not Be Repealed Due To Votes
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe New York Times broke the story today that House Speaker Paul Ryan “rushed” to the White House to explain to President Trump that he lacked the votes to repeal …
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Affordable Care ActAmerican Health Care Act (AHCA)Health Care Coverage
Would American Health Care Act Dis-incentivize Employers From Offering Healthcare?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOp-Ed Published on LA Biz Journal on March 21, 2017 Starting in the 1940’s, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) made employer-based healthcare tax free. Employers were not required to offer …
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American Health Care Act (AHCA)MedicaidPolitical Parties
Republicans Amend the American Health Care Act to Add a Work Requirement for Medicaid Eligibility
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWith the House vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) looming for Thursday and concern of its approval among conservatives in the House, GOP leadership has added a “manager’s …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Infographic: Healthcare Affordability Has Been On The Decline Since 2015
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenMany have said the Affordable Care Actis still not affordable, and that might be true as a matter of opinion. “Affordability” is defined by the ACA to be below 9.5% …
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ACA AuditACA Compliance
The IRS ACA Audit Process Forces Employers to Prove Their Case or Face Penalties
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOp-Ed Updated Published on March 16, 2017 on ‘Accounting Today’ A few weeks after the national election, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began to issue notices to employers who may …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
The ACA Replacement Plan Likely To Save Money But Add 24 Million Uninsured
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenRepublican House Speaker Paul Ryanrecently released the House leadership’s plan for an ACA repeal and replacement. While more light was shed on previously unanswered questions such as the fate of …
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Affordable Care ActAmerican Health Care Act (AHCA)
Just Weeks After Replacement Plan Surfaces, House GOP Readies Amendments
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenA few weeks ago, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan voiced the House GOP’s plans for a repeal and the replacement plan, which placed a heavy focus on eliminating ACA-mandated taxes. …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageRegulations
Uber Is Triumphant In California Misclassification Case
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenUber made a huge stride in their favor at the top of March, when a California courtnamed them victorious in yet another misclassification case. The case surrounded once again classifications …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
When It Comes To Healthcare, Are You Grandfathered Or Grandmothered?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), under the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS), released a notice at the close of February, announcing that insurance companies may …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
The American Health Care Act Prohibits Tax Credits for Abortion Coverage
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) did not change state law on abortions and expressly allowed states to elect out of abortion coverage in qualified health plans offered …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageReporting
IRS Extends Transition Relief For QSE HRA Notice
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAt the close of February, the IRSreleased a notice regarding qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement (QSE HRA) notices and an extension until further guidance is provided. These notices are …
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Affordable Care Act
KFF Study Shows Proposed ACA Replacement Plan May Cut Tax Credits
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs part of President Trump’s plans for repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, one element that remains in the forefront is that of proposed tax credits (PTCs) for …
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Affordable Care Act
Moral Hazard and the ACA: The Late Nobel Economist Kenneth Arrow’s Legacy Lives On
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenBy John Dante Kenneth J. Arrow was known for, among other things, laying the intellectual foundation that eventually gave rise to the Affordable Care Act. Born in 1921 in New …
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Health Care CoverageMedicaid
Are Medicaid Recipients Always Below The Federal Poverty Line? The Short Answer Is No.
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhen it comes to Medicaid, there is a lot of confusion as to what it means to be eligible on a state by state basis. The assumption may be that …
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Health Care CoverageReporting
Employer Reporting Continues Under House Republican Leadership Proposed Bill
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn March 6, 2017, the House Leadership recently unveiled its proposed bill called “American Health Care Act.”Among its provisions, the bill calls for termination of the issuance of premium tax …
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Affordable Care ActRegulations
House Republican Leadership Announce Their ACA Repeal and Replace Bill
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe Republican leadership in the House recently proposed its ACA repeal and replace bill. It remains uncertain as to whether Republicans can secure enough support amongst themselves to pass the …
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Affordable Care ActElection
Will GOP Senators Struggle with Re-Election with an ACA Repeal?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOne thing is for certain when it comes to the Affordable Care Act: it keeps the people talking. As Republicans talk of a repeal, with a replacement plan that will …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
Former GOP Speaker Doubts an ACA Repeal Will Occur
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn February 24th, President Trump spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and echoed his continued sentiment that the Affordable Care Act must be repealed and replaced. He referred …
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Affordable Care ActReporting
The IRS Won’t Reject Returns Without Healthcare Reporting, But You May Be Penalized
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs we settle into the heart of tax season, the IRS has some new updates regarding how healthcare is reported on tax returns. The Affordable Care Act mandates individuals to …
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ACA ReformHealth Care Coverage
President Trump Proposes New Rule To Stabilize ACA Marketplace
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenDetails on President Trump’s plans for an ACA repeal and replacement are finally coming to light. In a new proposed rule, the stabilization of the exchange is placed at the …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoveragePolls/Surveys
New KFF Study Shows A Change In The Perception of The ACA
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs the Trump Administration begins the rollout for changes to healthcare reform—namely a repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act—there appears to be changes in American opinions of the …
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Affordable Care Act
Does The Newly Revised HHS 2017 Calendar Suggest A Delayed ACA Repeal?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhile the Trump Administration’s proposed rule for market stabilization was circulated in the middle of February, also included were date changes for 2017 and 2018 by the Department of Health …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
The GOP Has Released An ACA Replacement Outline
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIt feels as though Americans have been waiting with bated breath to hear the latest in the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. A replacement outline is finally …
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ACA AuditACA ComplianceAffordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageReporting
The ACA Exchange Appeals Process
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe Exchanges in the Health Insurance Marketplace have been issuing out notices to employers. Each such Notice indicates to the employer that it may be subject to penalties for failing …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
ACA Complexities Increase Among States
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs the Affordable Care Act remains under the magnifying glass—debating on a repeal, replace, or fix—states are feeling the brunt of the confusion. States with the ways and means to …
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ACA ComplianceHealth Care Coverage
Uber Decision in Florida and The Gig Economy
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn a recent decision within the Florida courts, Uber was victorious in a misclassification case that left Uber drivers classified as independent contractors and not employees. It speaks to the …
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Affordable Care Act
While GOP Advances ACA Repeal, Republican Senators Prep Tax Reform
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn February 1, members of the Senate convened at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in DC, discussing a variety of topics from tax reform regarding import/export within the country’s borders …
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Health Care CoverageMedicaid
Keeping Up With The GOP And Medicaid Expansion
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenNew remarks from President Trump are now suggesting that the Affordable Care Act won’t see an immediate repeal or replacement until well into the next year. While that may be …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
2016-2017 Healthcare.Gov Open Enrollment Figures: An Infographic
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenFrom November 1, 2016 through January 31, 2017, Healthcare.gov launched its open enrollment period for new and returning consumers to obtain coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Our infographic shows …
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ACA ComplianceIRS
The IRS Audit Process Will Force Employers to Prove Their Case or Face Penalties
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenPost election, in December of 2016, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began to issue out notices to employers who may have failed to comply with the ACA. These notices appear …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
New Tool Gives Public a Voice in ACA Repeal & Replace
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenBy Michael Z. Stahl, Guest Columnist Sr. Vice President of HealthMarkets There’s one thing that’s clear: The new President and Congress intend to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
The Fate Of The ACA In Kentucky
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhile the Trump Administration is slowly putting the wheels in motion to repeal the Affordable Care Act, one state governor has been trying for over a year to do so …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
The Affordable Care Act Repeal And Replace: Acknowledgement of Delay By President Trump
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIt was early last month when House Speaker Paul Ryan suggested that an ACA repeal would be far from immediate, as the transitional period in and of itself could take …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
As ACA Repeal Draws Near, The CBO Weighs In
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn a report dated January 17, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) offered estimates on what would happen should the ACA be repealed. These figures range from premium prices to statistics …
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Health Care CoveragePharmaceutical
President Trump Has Some Things To Say About The Pharmaceutical Industry
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn January, the pharmaceutical industry found itself in a mini-crisis following a press conference at the White House in mid-January. Just a few days following his Inauguration, Trump accused pharma …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Trump Supporters And Healthcare: What Do They Want?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn mid-January, Republicans made the official first step in repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by voting 227-198 in permitting the GOP to bring their bill for repeal of the …
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IRSRegulationsReporting
IRS Clarifies De Minimis Error Safe Harbor For Information Return Penalties
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe IRS recently published Notice 2017-9 announcing its intent to issue regulations regarding the obligation of a payor (e.g., employer) to document payee (e.g., employee) elections for application of the …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageHealth Insurance Marketplace
The Last Day For ACA Enrollment Almost Went Unmarketed
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenHealthcare.gov has been hard at work informing consumers of a continuous countdown to the end of open enrollment, advising to sign up for 2017 Marketplace coverage ASAP. However, at the …
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Affordable Care ActPolls/Surveys
This Interactive Map Will Shed More Light On ACA Enrollment
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe Kaiser Family Foundation often conducts surveys providing valuable information, more specifically in recent years surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Now, the KFF has released some interactive maps to …
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ACA ComplianceReporting
ACA Reporting And The IRS: What To Know About The Letter You Received
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAt the close of 2016, the IRS letters mailed notices to employers, signaling the start of the IRS’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) audit process. Despite much talk of an ACA …
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Affordable Care ActIRSReporting
IRS Commissioner Reports On ACA Stats For 2015
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhile we are getting our information in order for the 2016 tax year, we received some clarity on the previous year from the IRS. The IRS’s Commissioner John Koskinen has …
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ACA ComplianceIRS
Understanding Anti-Discrimination: The IRS Issues Final Rule
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn the final rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Hawaii Finds A Healthcare System Even Better Than The ACA
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs of this month, Hawaii’s small business market will provide healthcare to its workers that competes with (and even beats) what the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has provided for Americans. …
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ACA ComplianceAffordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Trump’s Executive Order on the ACA and Future Compliance Obligations
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn his first day in office, Trump signed one of his first executive orders, entitled “Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal.” The …
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ACA ComplianceAffordable Care ActReporting
The Reality Of ACA Penalties Post-Repeal
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs Donald J. Trump officially takes his seat as the 45th President of the United States, we inch closer to the reality of an Affordable Care Act repeal. While the …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageRegulations
The U.S. Gig Economy Will Suffer With An ACA Repeal
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIndependent contractors, freelancers, consultants. These workers have slowly risen up the ranks as backbones of many companies, yet when it comes to traditional labor rights, they’ve consistently come up short. …