Republican 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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ACA Resource
Employer’s Guide to Coding The 1095-C Forms
Head into the ACA filing season with the guide that makes it crystal clear how to complete Forms 1095-C. Including real world scenarios and a code glossary, the Employer’s Guide to Coding ACA Form 1095-C has you covered with everything you need to know to file with confidence.
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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.…
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
An ACA Repeal Could Cost Hospitals Billions In Losses
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenInauguration Day is inching closer and closer, and so are the policies that President-Elect Trump has planned once he assumes the seat of President this year. A repeal of the…
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Affordable Care Act
Will They Or Won’t They? Republicans Carry On The Move Toward ACA Repeal
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn a news conference held on January 12th in Washington, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan advised that House committees will be instrumental in the repeal and replacement of the…
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ACA ComplianceReporting
Some ACA Compliance Still Required By Employers Despite Possible Repeal
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs conflicting opinions of an ACA Repeal continue to loom overhead, from the Republican viewpoint, a repeal seems inevitable. However, this does not translate to an elimination of ACA compliance…
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Affordable Care ActIRSRegulations
IRS Finalizes Regulations Adopt Intentional or Reckless Disregard of Facts Exceptions to Employee Safe Harbor
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe IRS has provided clarity with regard to what qualifies as an “intentional or reckless disregard of facts” by employees when it comes to seeking shelter under the employee Premium…
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IRSSmall Business Health Options Program (SHOP)
IRS Quick Update: Notice 2016-75
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn a short update to Notice 2016-75 under Section 45R of theInternal Revenue Code, the IRS has shed some light on how small businesses can seek relief in unique circumstances.…
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ACA ComplianceHealth Care Coverage
Understanding ACA Compliance And Utilizing Staffing Firms
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenBy now it should come as no surprise that maintaining ACA compliance is a confusing and at times difficult task. We know the basics: Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) with 50…
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Florida Governor Wants An ACA Repeal “As Quickly As Can Get It Done”
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn December 19th, 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott had a meeting with nominated Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Tom Price. While Scott and Price barely met…
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ACA ComplianceReporting
The IRS ACA Audit Has Begun: What To Do To Avoid Penalties
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenA round of IRS letters have been mailed out to employers, signifying the start of the IRS’s Affordable Care Act audit process. As the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) anticipates nine…
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Affordable Care ActRegulationsReporting
IRS Releases Proposed Regulations For Health Insurance Provider Fees
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenSection 9010 of the Affordable Care Act surrounds Health Insurance Provider Fees and the IRS has released some new proposed regulations for reporting information among other changes. See IRS REG-123829-16…