An Internal Revenue guide to help determine eligibility is available at: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/3_simple_steps.pdf

Other Reform Updates


In Reform news, aside from the House Energy and Commerce Committee asking the General Accountability Office to study the effects of physician self-referral of advanced medical imaging and radiation therapy (See, DM 12471, DM 12493), another committee--the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions--held a full committee hearing on Protection from Unjustified Premiums. The hearing was in consideration of S. 3078, the Health Insurance Rate Authority Act of 2010, introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) earlier this year.

"My legislation simply creates a federal fallback, allowing the Secretary [of HHS] to conduct reviews of potentially unreasonable rates in states where the insurance commissioner does not already have the authority or capability to do so, "Senator Feinstein explained. "The Secretary would review potentially unreasonable premium increases and take corrective action. This could include blocking an increase, or providing rebates to consumers."

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has asked the health insurance company WellPoint to end the practice of ceasing health insurance coverage for women with breast cancer, after Reuters reported that the company "specifically targeted women with breast cancer for aggressive investigation with the intent to cancel their policies." Insurance rescissions, except in cases of obvious misrepresentation or fraud, will be outlawed later this year.

"WellPoint should not wait to end the unconscionable practice of deliberately working to deny health insurance coverage to women diagnosed with breast cancer. I urge you to immediately cease these practices and abandon your efforts to rescind health insurance coverage from patients who need it most," Sebelius said in her letter.

State Matters

Two State governors have worked on reforms in their own states. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed House Bill 1498, which requires health insurance companies in Missouri to make claims payments to doctors more timely. "Many of the physicians, hospitals and clinics that provide vital health care to Missourians are often left waiting for payment from insurance companies months after those providers submit their claims," Governor Nixon said in a press release. "Hardest hit of all are Missouri's rural providers, who are more vulnerable to these disruptions in cash flow. The law I am signing today should provide welcome relief to Missouri's rural health care system by speeding up those payments."

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