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Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for Unreasonable Rate Hikes
The law allows states that have, or plan to implement, measures that require insurance companies to justify their premium increases to be eligible for $250 million in new grants. Insurance companies with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new health insurance Exchanges in 2014. -
The Affordable Care Act Becomes Law
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. The law puts in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will roll out over four years and beyond, with most changes taking place by 2014. -
Allowing States to Cover More People on Medicaid
States will be able to receive federal matching funds for covering some additional low-income individuals and families under Medicaid for whom federal funds were not previously available. This will make it easier for states that choose to do so to cover more of their residents. -
Tax on Indoor Tanning Services
On June 15, 2010, the Internal Revenue Service issued regulations implementing the new tax on indoor tanning services effective July 1, 2010. -
Extending Coverage for Young Adults
Under the new law, young adults will be allowed to stay on their parent’s plan until they turn 26 years old. -
Prohibiting Denying Coverage of Children Based on Pre-Existing Conditions
Effective for health plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010 for new plans and existing group plans -
Preventing Disease and Illness
A new $15 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund will invest in proven prevention and public health programs that can help keep Americans healthy – from smoking cessation to combating obesity. -
Prescription Drug Discounts
You can expect additional savings on your covered brand-name and generic drugs while in the coverage gap until the gap is closed in 2020. -
Free Preventive Care for Seniors
The law provides certain free preventive services, such as annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans, for seniors on Medicare. -
Improving Care for Seniors After They Leave the Hospital
The Community Care Transitions Program will help high risk Medicare beneficiaries who are hospitalized avoid unnecessary readmissions to the hospital by coordinating care and connecting patients to services in their communities. -
Improving Care for Seniors after They Leave the Hospital
The Community Care Transitions Program will help high-risk Medicare beneficiaries who are hospitalized avoid unnecessary readmissions by coordinating care and connecting patients to services in their communities. -
Medicare Advantage Plan Payments
Reduces rebates paid to Medicare Advantage plans and provides bonus payments to high–quality plans. -
Small Business Tax Credit
he law implements the second phase of the small business tax credit for qualified small businesses and small non-profit organizations. In this phase, the credit is up to 50 percent of the employer's contribution to provide health insurance for employees. There is also up to a 35 percent credit for small nonprofit organizations -
Encouraging Integrated Health Systems
The new law provides incentives for physicians to join together to form "Accountable Care Organizations," through which doctors can better coordinate patient care and improve the quality, help prevent disease and illness and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. If Accountable Care Organizations provide high quality care and reduce costs to the health care system, they can keep some of the money that they have helped to save. -
Reduced Medicare Payments for Hospital Readmission
Reduces Medicare payments that would otherwise be made to hospitals to account for excess (preventable) hospital readmissions. -
Reducing Paperwork and Administrative Costs
Health care remains one of the few industries that relies on paper records. The new law will institute a series of changes to standardize billing and requires health plans to begin adopting and implementing rules for the secure, confidential, electronic exchange of health information. Using electronic health records will reduce paperwork and administrative burdens, cut costs, reduce medical errors and, most importantly, improve the quality of care. -
Additional Funding for the Children's Health Insurance Progra
nder the new law, states will receive two more years of funding to continue coverage for children not eligible for Medicaid -
Paying Physicians Based on Value Not Volume
A new provision will tie physician payments to the quality of care they provide. Physicians will see their payments modified to reflect the quality of care they provide so that providers who provide higher value care will receive higher payments than those who provide lower quality care.