Now that the great Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal and replace debate has seemingly ended in Congress, we’ve seen movement by members of Congress towards a bipartisan approach to healthcare …
Affordable Care Act
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HealthcareLegislation
Congress Moves Toward Bipartisan Approaches to Address Healthcare Issues
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenA spirit of bipartisanship in Congress seems to be rising from the rubble of the failed Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The first test of …
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IRSTIGTA
2 Reasons Why Employers Should Care About the IRS Individual Mandate Report
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenA recently released report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) on IRS notifications in regards to the ACA’s individual mandate has potential implications for employers. TIGTA, at …
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Department of Labor (DOL)Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
The DOL, HSAs and the New Fiduciary Rule
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAfter numerous delays, the Department of Labor put its final fiduciary rule, which was issued on April 8, 2016, into partial effect on June 9 this year, but with enforcement …
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ACA ReportingIRS
Draft IRS ACA Reporting Forms for 2017 Are Out, Transition Relief for Companies Is Over
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe IRS has released drafts of forms 1094-C and 1095-C for use in reporting ACA-mandated information for the 2017 tax year. You can view the draft forms at these links: …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Health Insurance Brokers Help Employers Lower Healthcare Costs
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhen it comes to providing healthcare as an employer, cost is a major concern. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), applicable large employers – organizations with 50 or more full-time …
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At times, companies may feel like they are swimming in data. It’s an information overload, and a lack of organization can lead to many mistakes in consolidating, validating and analyzing …
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ACA ComplianceAffordable Care Act
ACA Remains in Place, and a Study Highlights Potential Lack of Company Compliance
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe recent failure in the U.S. Senate vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) leaves in place the ACA’s employer mandate. The employer mandate applies to businesses with 50 …
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Affordable Care ActMedicaid
Medicaid Receives Praise From Its Recipients
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThere’s a fallacy amongst some people that suggests Medicaid recipients are receiving less than stellar healthcare. That couldn’t be further from the truth according to a new study from Harvard’s …
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IRSPremium Tax Credit
The IRS Finalizes Regulations for ACA Premium Tax Credits
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe IRS on July 24 finalized regulations for the use of premium tax credits. These are the tax credits provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help lower income …
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The Congressional Budget Office previously forewarned that a post-ACA world would lead to some financial troubles, and that those effects could trickle down significantly into the pockets of the American …
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ACA ReportingAIR
New IRS Memo Sheds Light On AIR Updates for ACA Information Reports
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe upcoming reporting year deadlines for Affordable Care Act information returns for the 2017 tax year are: January 31, 2018: deadline to furnish 1095-C schedules February 28, 2018: deadline to …
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ACA ComplianceACA Reporting
ACA Filing Deadlines Still Loom Amid Reform Debate
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOriginally published on July 18, 2017 in “Compliance Week” As healthcare reform sputters along in Congress, companies still face filing deadlines under the Affordable Care Act, and the Internal Revenue Service …
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ACA ComplianceEmployee Misclassification
New Developments In Uber Misclassification Suits Prove The Complexities of Potential ACA Liability
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAt the close of June, a shocking new development arose from Uber’s employee misclassification suits. The drivers who asserted they were actual Uber employees and not independent contractors had their …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageLawsuits
ACA Discrimination Suit Sheds Light On Transgender Child Rights
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOver the last few years, the rights of transgender workers within organizations have continued to fall under the microscope. From anti-discrimination rules surrounding hiring to adequately reporting the gender of …
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ACA Compliance
EEO-1 Reporting Complications Creates ACA Reporting Efficiencies
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAt first glance, it’s a nice reprieve that EEO-1 reports for the 2017 tax year have been postponed. Reports were slated for a September 30, 2017 due date for all …
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Affordable Care ActLegislation
Updated Better Care Reconciliation Act Released
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe U.S. Senate has released a new, updated draft of the Republican-proposed Better Care Reconciliation Act aimed at winning over Republican Senators who were not enamored of the initially proposed …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
As Trump Seeks To Change Birth Control Rights, States Provide Aid For Women
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIt’s far from coincidental that timed with Donald Trump’s move into the White House as President of the United States, women marched for reproductive rights. Trump made it part of …
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Affordable Care Act
Pressure Mounts for Congressional Action on Healthcare as Congress Returns to Washington
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs Congress returns to Washington, D.C. from a quick Independence Day break, the question of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains top of mind. Job one for …
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ACA ComplianceIRS
IRS Still Moving Forward with ACA Compliance Enforcement for Employers
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe IRS recently issued Notice 2017-38, which revealed the results of the Treasury Department’s review of all “significant tax regulations” per President Trump’s Executive Order 13789 issued in April 2017. …
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Health Care CoverageHealth Insurance Marketplace
Iowa Seeks Help From ACA During Healthcare Crisis
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenCome 2018, Iowa has the potential threat of losing health care provider options within their exchange for a significant number of residents. Now, the Iowa insurance commission is requesting a …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Texas And Other States Await Possible Return Of Blue Cross-Blue Shield Insurer
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOver the last few years, we’ve witnessed major health insurers withdrawing from offering coverage on various states’ exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. Companies like UnitedHealth and Aetna arguably led …
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Health Care CoverageHealth Insurance Marketplace
Deadline Nearing to Provide HHS Comments On How To Improve Health Insurance Markets
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhile Congress has been discussing new directions for healthcare reform from the Affordable Care Act, President Trump has been talking about the death of that current healthcare law. However, as …
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Affordable Care Act
New ACA-Related FAQ Arrives From Various Government Agencies
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe U.S. Treasury Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL), has released new FAQs pertaining to mental health. …
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Affordable Care ActLegislation
Case of Whistleblower Demonstrates ACA Protections for Healthcare Workers
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenA recent ruling by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Administrative Review Board (ARB) upheld the anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation provisions contained in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These “whistleblower provisions,” among …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
Americans Dissatisfied With Senate ACA Replacement, Per KFF Study; Senate Vote is Delayed Until After July 4
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe fate of Obamacare will not be determined this week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Senate Republicans that a vote on the Senate replacement plan called “Better Care Reconciliation …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
Complexities Await Should ACA Be Amended Prior To Repeal
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn June 26, President Trump tweeted, “Republican Senators are working very hard to get there, with no help from the Democrats. Not easy! Perhaps just let OCare crash & burn!” …
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American Health Care Act (AHCA)Health Care Coverage
The AHCA May Cost Seniors Almost Half Of Their Annual Income In Premiums
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe American Health Care Act (AHCA) is still sitting in the Senate, awaiting a verdict on being modified or dismantled to something unrecognizable. While in limbo, analyses continue to surface, …
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ACA RepealHealth Care Reform
As Secret ACA Repeal Looms Overhead, Senate Democrats Voice Protest
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenLast week it was revealed that Senate GOP have been meeting behind closed doors, readying perhaps a complete rewrite of Trump’s proposed healthcare bill, the American Health Care Act. Prior …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
Senate Republicans Ready ACA Replacement Plan In Private
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenEarlier this year, House Republicans gathered in the wee hours of the morning to secretly prepare a replacement plan for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The result …
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Health Care CoverageHealth Care Reform
Two New Health Care Tax Bills Approved Pending AHCA Passing
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThere was a time in the early stages of the ACA repeal where the Trump Administration shrugged off any ACA-mandated taxes going forward. The growing concern was that a repeal …
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For those employers with self-insured plans, the annual filing and fee payments deadline is coming up on the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee on July 31. IRS Form 720, …
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Affordable Care ActAmerican Health Care Act (AHCA)
Study Finds Veterans Received Healthcare Thanks To ACA Medicaid Expansion
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenDuring President Trump’s campaign, there was a lot of rhetoric extolling the importance of caring for veterans. That time seemed to change with the House passage of the American Healthcare …
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Health Care CoverageMedicaid
Seniors And Medicaid: The Real Connection
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenFor many Americans, the understanding of healthcare when it comes to senior citizens is that their benefits are derived from Medicare. While that may be true for millions, there are …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
Senate GOP Views 2020 As Target For ACA Repeal
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenSince Trump took the seat as President at the top of 2017, the Republican Party has arguably been inching toward opposition within itself, particularly when it comes to healthcare reform. …
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ACA Compliance
FCCI Identifies Five Common Challenges Organizations Face When Complying with ACA Requirements
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOp-Ed originally published in PR Newswire. LOS ANGELES, CA — June 7, 2017 — First Capitol Consulting, Inc., (FCCI) has achieved a 100 percent success rate in assisting organizations with filing …
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American Health Care Act (AHCA)Health Care Coverage
Older Americans Are Among The Greatest Affected By The Proposed AHCA
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenCurrently, Senate GOP may be deliberating over potentially holding off on the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act until after the 2018 elections. This news arrives on the …
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Health Care CoverageMedicaid
Will Medicaid Be A Casualty Of The AHCA? New Study Shows Americans Are Concerned
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhile the Affordable Care Act made significant strides in Medicaid Expansion, that may all change should the American Health Care Act (AHCA) be put into action. While federal funding for …
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Affordable Care ActTax Reform
The Questionable Fate Of Trump’s Promises For Tax Reform
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn May 30, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer explained that President Trump’s “plan for the most significant tax reform in decades continues to progress.” However, that may not reflect …
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Affordable Care ActAmerican Health Care Act (AHCA)
Has The Public Changed Its Tune On The Affordable Care Act?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe fate of the Affordable Care Act currently rests in the hands of Senate as they dissect Trump’s American Health Care Act and either approve it, dismantle it or just …
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Affordable Care ActTIGTA
New Audit Reflects Positive Effects Of IRS’s HCTC For Those In Need
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIf there is one goal to highlight from the Affordable Care Act, it’s providing affordable healthcare to Americans. Last year, the IRS assisted in that cause with an interim process …
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American Health Care Act (AHCA)Health Care Coverage
President Trump’s Budget Proposal Poses Continued Threat To Medicaid And Planned Parenthood
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenLast week, news broke that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that Trump’s newly revamped American Health Care Act (AHCA) will leave 23 million more people uninsured in 2026 than …
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American Health Care Act (AHCA)Health Care Coverage
Anti-AHCA Protesters Kick Their Efforts Up A Notch
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIf there is one thing that President Trump has placed into the hearts of the American people, it’s the need to speak out. Since arriving in office at the top …
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American Health Care Act (AHCA)Health Care Coverage
CBO Scoring Shows 23 Million Will Lose Insurance by 2026 Under the Revised House Healthcare Bill
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenSo much of Senate’s decisions appear to be surrounding the House GOP’s proposed healthcare bill rested on a score from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The scoring was guaranteed by …
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American Health Care Act (AHCA)Health Care Coverage
Paralyzed Veterans of America Reject the AHCA
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenDonald Trump’s entire “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan was footnoted with a promise to help both the working class and United States Veterans. However, a specific group of veterans …
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Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
New Delays Prove The ACA Will Be Around For A While
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn Monday (May 22), a motion was filed by both the White House and Congress requesting a 90-day delay regarding an appeal surrounding cost-sharing reduction payments (CSR). The case, known …
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Affordable Care ActAmerican Health Care Act (AHCA)
Featured Press: 3 Issues For Business As The U.S. Senate Tackles Trumpcare
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOp-Ed originally published in The Business Journals. After some false starts, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), as amended, the first step …
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American Health Care Act (AHCA)Health Care Coverage
Warren Buffett Says The One Thing About Trumpcare That We Needed To Hear
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenEarlier this month, Warren Buffett appeared on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” and had several things to say in his interview; especially about Trump’s American Health Care Act. While many speculated that …
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Affordable Care ActAmerican Health Care Act (AHCA)Health Care Coverage
Republican Congress Members Maintain Their ACA Benefits In The Midst Of A Repeal
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhen Trump’s revamp of his American Health Care Act (AHCA) was green lit by the House, Republicans who were anti-ACA found this to be a win. Despite the Senate feeling …
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Health Care CoverageMedicaid
New Study Finds Staggering Number Of Uninsured Medicaid Recipients Should AHCA Be Passed
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs the newly revamped AHCA has been given House approval and moves onto the Senate floor, a new study shows how the revamped bill’s effect on Medicaid Expansion could prove …