Compliance Corner: Podcasts
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September 04, 2019
Ep 59: Comparing Administrative Costs Between Single Payer Systems and Private Insurance Markets
In this episode, Suzanne Spradley and Chase Cannon examine one argument that is put forth by proponents of a single payer system — that because Medicare is purportedly more administratively efficient, that a single payer system in the U.S. would reap huge savings and reduce overall health care costs. Suzanne breaks down the estimated administrative costs of Medicare (claimed 2% of total costs) versus private insurance (claimed 12% to 15% of total costs), and the reports upon which they’re based. Suzanne explores whether comparing administrative costs versus total costs is the best method, and how a per-beneficiary comparison might be more meaningful. Suzanne and Chase discuss some of the costs that shouldn’t be included in an administrative costs comparison, including profits and taxes. The two wrap the episode with a discussion on how some administrative costs actually reap huge benefits, and why administrative costs may not impact overall health care costs — ultimately concluding that the current comparison and claims on single payer administrative cost savings may not be all they’re cracked up to be.
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668699702
August 20, 2019
Podcast 58: What Would the SECURE Act Mean for You?
In this podcast, Beth Allen and Chase Cannon discuss the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act. Beth highlights the last major retirement legislation that's passed and briefly discusses what has taken place to bring the SECURE Act to this point. That discussion leads into a conversation about what all the SECURE Act entails, including what the act would mean for retirement plan participants, plan sponsors, and industry organizations. They end with a discussion of where the bill is now and what could happen next.
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662071607
August 06, 2019
Podcast Episode 57: Updates and Considerations on State Family and Medical Leave Laws
In this episode, Chase Cannon and Carol Wood, in her podcast debut, discuss updates and considerations regarding state family and medical leave laws. The two discuss leave protections that have been enacted in new states in the past few years, as well as states that previously had such laws and protections in place. Chase outlines, at a high level, some of the differences in duration of leave, benefits, and family members for whom an employee can take leave (including domestic partners, who employers often forget about). Chase and Carol wrap up the discussion by outlining several key points employers should consider when developing their employee leave policies, with a focus on the benefits considerations.
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648794795
July 09, 2019
Ep 56: DOL and IRS Enforcement Involving Employee Benefit Plans
In this episode, Suzanne Spradley and Lauren Fischer discuss criminal enforcement actions by the DOL and IRS involving employee benefit plans. Specifically, the two discuss the latest development in the action involving The Total Financial Group, Inc., which promoted the Classic 105 program. Suzanne and Lauren then discuss other enforcement actions involving an HRA administrator, an internal employee benefit administrator and a program that sought to carve-out high claimants from a self-insured plan.
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642017757
June 25, 2019
What Are the States and Congress Doing about Surprise Medical Bills?
In this episode, Suzanne Spradley and Jill Brooking discuss surprise medical bills and what laws have been enacted or proposed at the state and federal level. The two address situations in which surprise medical bills occur, the two ways that the individual is financially impacted, polling and claims data concerning the extent of this issue, and which states are taking a comprehensive approach to resolving this issue for fully insured plans in their states. Suzanne and Jill then discuss recent proposals by three bipartisan groups in the Senate.
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635546607
June 12, 2019
Podcast 54: Single Payer Series Continued — A review of the Single Payer CBO Report
Continuing discussion of single-payer system proposals, Suzanne Spradley and Chase Cannon review the recent report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on a single-payer system in the US. Suzanne starts off by describing the purpose of the report and some high-level takeaways, including that the report does not specifically address funding of a single-payer system (one of the major challenges in establishing a single-payer system). Suzanne and Chase discuss the report’s findings on the administration of a single-payer system (state- versus federally-run), the types of benefits and cost-sharing, eligibility for single-payer plans, and the potential roles of private insurance (including employer-sponsored coverage) alongside a single payer (in a multi-payer system). Suzanne wraps things up by discussing the report’s take on approaches to setting provider rates, and some of the conclusions reached by the report.
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628626741
May 29, 2019
Podcast Episode 53: Single-Payer at the State Level: A Review of Vermont’s Single-Payer System
In the fifth part of the single-payer system mini-series, Chase Cannon and Suzanne Spradley look at single-payer systems at the state level, specifically reviewing Vermont’s failed attempt at establishing a single-payer system. Chase walks through the political environment leading up to the passage of the state’s single-payer bill, the proposed plan, and the events that transpired in the years following the passage of the bill. Chase and Suzanne walk through several of the factors that prevented Vermont from implementing their single-payer proposal. They’ll cover funding, tax increases and exemptions, barriers to purported savings, and public education. The two close with a discussion on how Vermont’s struggles might impact single-payer efforts on both the state and federal level moving forward.
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613972188
May 01, 2019
Podcast Episode 52: Digging Deeper Into the Challenges of a Single-Payer System – Part IV
In the fourth part of this mini-series on single-payer systems, Suzanne Spradley and Chase Cannon look at four versions of single-payer system legislation introduced by the Democrats. The two walk through the four versions from least to most intrusive to the current system, which is based on employer-provided coverage. The four versions are a Medicaid buy-in (also called a “State Public Option”), Medicare buy-in (also called “Medicare for More”), Medicare-X Choice Act (which includes an expansion of the current premium tax credits administered through the state health insurance exchanges), and the full blown Bernie Sanders-style Medicare for All (true single payer, nationalized health care). Suzanne discusses the terminology, definition, structure, funding, provider impact, consequences, and potential challenges to each of the four versions. Suzanne and Chase conclude with a look at what all this could mean for the 2020 elections.
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600005940
April 02, 2019
Podcast Episode 51: District Court Invalidates DOL’s AHP Rules
In this episode, Chase Cannon and Suzanne Spradley break down last week’s D.C. district court ruling that invalidates the DOL’s 2018 rules on association health plans (AHPs, which are also considered multiple employer welfare arrangements, or MEWAs). Chase gives a high level outline of the original and 2018 DOL AHP rules, and how the two differ. Suzanne and Chase discuss the lawsuit filed by a coalition states – led by New York and Massachusetts – and the arguments presented: That the DOL went beyond its authority be expanding access to AHPs through a loosening of ERISA’s rules on commonality of interest, primary purpose, and working owner participation. The two analyze the court’s reasoning in concluding that the 2018 rules are invalid as a regulatory overreach in conflict with ERISA’s statutory design. Chase and Suzanne prognosticate on next steps in the challenge and lawsuit, and what it all means for AHPs.
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592549626
March 19, 2019
Podcast Episode 50: Digging Deeper into the Challenges of a Single-Payer System – Part III
In the third part of this mini-series on single-payer systems, Suzanne Spradley and Chase Cannon focus on the challenges of funding a single-payer system, with a focus on the single-payer proposal put forth by Senator Bernie Sanders. Suzanne explains that the Sanders plan is a comprehensive first-dollar government-financed health insurance plan for all Americans, and is therefore very expensive. Suzanne outlines the taxes that would have to be raised and to what extent, and discusses studies that outline the total amounts of tax increases for both individuals and businesses. Suzanne and Chase discuss the different purported savings and efficiencies under the Sanders proposal, and how various studies dispute them. The two address different aspects of current inefficiencies in US-run programs, including waste, fraud and abuse in the current Medicare system. The two conclude that funding a single-payer system in any form will be a huge challenge; one that will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to overcome for those that support such a system.
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