I received this e-mail today from my insurance provider:
NEWS ABOUT HEALTH CARE CHANGES!
US Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act
On June 28, 2012, the US Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA), ruling that the law's individual mandate is a constitutional exercise of Congress's power to impose taxes
With the exception of the limitation on the federal government's authority to withhold Medicaid funding, all provisions of the ACA stand and compliance efforts likely will move ahead at full speed. In preparation for the major coverage expansion to occur under the ACA in 2014, the Administration is expected to release a host of regulations dealing with the definition of minimum essential coverage, employer coverage and reporting requirements, and an array of new taxes and fees. Clients should be aware of provisions of the law set to take effect in 2013 and 2014, including those listed in the table below.
Provisions of the Affordable Care Act That Take Effect in 2012, 2013 and 2014
2012
Medicare hospital value-based purchasing program
Increase in physician quality reporting requirements in Medicare
Additional Medicare pilot programs on alternative payment methodologies, e.g., accountable care organizations
Increased requirements for hospitals to maintain not-for-profit status
Fees from insured (including self-insured) plans transferred to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund
2013
Increase Medicare payroll tax by 0.9% on high-income earners
Impose a 3.8% tax on net investment income of high-income individuals
$500,000 cap on health insurers' deduction for executive compensation
Eliminate employer deduction for Medicare Part D subsidy
FSA limitations
Excise tax on medical device manufacturers and importers
Medical expense deduction floor increases to 10%
Nationwide bundled payment pilot begins in Medicare
Increased Medicaid reimbursement for primary care
Medicare physician comparison data available to the public
Reductions in Medicare payments for select hospital readmissions
Expanded coverage of preventive services by Medicaid
2014
Employer mandate and individual mandate
Employer and insurer reporting requirements
New health insurance market reforms take effect
State health insurance Exchanges established
Premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies available to certain individuals in Exchange insurance products
Medicaid expansion to new populations (100% federal match to states for newly- eligible populations through 2016)
Annual fee on health insurers
Medicare/Medicaid DSH payment cuts begin
Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) issues first report to Congress if Medicare spending exceeds growth target
Post-2014
Excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored coverage