03.07.2020 06.45 CDT
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued new proposed regulations that provide guidance on the process that plan fiduciaries should use in selecting ESG investments. In issuing the proposed regulations the DOL targets ESG funds and creates new requirements--and hurdles-to the use of such funds.
DOL Delivers Lump of Coal to ESG Funds
Proposed DOL regulations would add new restrictions to the use of ESG funds.
The Department of Labor has issued new proposed regulation regarding intended to guide plan fiduciaries seeking to invest in funds that utilize environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) considerations. The proposed regulations identify specific (additional) steps that fiduciaries must take in order to utilize ESG funds and would prohibit use of ESG funds within plan “default” investments.
04.11.2017 12.57 CDT
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has issued new proposed regulations regarding the operation of health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). These proposed regulations will provide increased authority to states and insurance companies.
The (Ongoing) Saga of ACA: New Proposed Regulations
Proposed regulations will transfer control over key decisions from the federal government to individual states and insurance companies.
Proposed regulations will transfer control over key decisions from the federal government to individual states and insurance companies. The proposed regulations do not, directly, make significant changes to the health insurance coverages offered under ACA. However, they set the stage for such changes to occur in coming years.
16.08.2017 09.11 CDT
It may be helpful for members of Congress to remember some key actuarial principles as they continue to consider changes to the health care system.
Large Numbers, Risk Pooling and Congress
As Congress continues to discuss changes to the Affordable Care Act, it may be helpful to share some actuarial and insurance fundamentals.
As Republican legislators continue their efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, they keep on looking for new ways to separate portions the insurance markets into different segments. These efforts run counter to some key actuarial and insurance principles: segmenting the risk pool increases volatility and that creation of different risk pools based on health status can lead to increased premiums for many.
13.07.2017 06.27 CDT
Senate Republicans have released a revised version of their health care proposal. The Senate version is substantially similar to the bill released by the Senate Republicans in June, but with a handful of changes intended to win support from key Republican holdouts.
Senate Revises Health Care Bill
The much-anticipated revision of the Republican Senate health care proposal has arrived.
Senate Republicans have released their revised proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The revised proposal makes a handful of significant changes to the Senate proposal released in June.
29.06.2017 12.43 CDT
Proposals to repeal and replace the ACA contain many provisions to shift health care costs. Unfortunately, they do not do enough to actually reduce costs.
Don’t Confuse Cost Shifting with Cost Savings
Legislative Efforts to Repeal ACA Do Not Reduce Health Care Costs
The Congressional proposals to replace the Affordable Care Act create winners and losers - and may reduce insurance premiums for some of these winners. But shifting costs around does not really reduce national health care costs. This represents a missed opportunity – there are things Congress could do to that might actually lower costs.