Media Mentions
2012
Supreme Court Ruling, Exchanges Top Issues for Health Insurers in 2012
Bloomberg BNA Health Insurance Report, January 11, 2012
The rule that HHS will issue in 2012 on the EHB package affects not only ‘‘qualified health plans’’ offered through the state insurance exchanges, but also all ‘‘nongrandfathered’’ individual and small group plans that did not exist before PPACA was enacted, Anne Hance, a partner in the health industry advisory practice group of McDermott Will & Emery LLP, told Bloomberg BNA. ‘‘It becomes a very critical benchmark,’’ Hance said. ‘‘For plans it’s a strategic issue,’’ since some benefits that are not defined as ‘‘essential’’ are popular, and health plans will have to consider what to offer in the context of the rule, she said.
2011
“Physicians Uncertain About Taking Part in ACOs”
American Medical News, December 5, 2011
Anne Hance suggested that “in a large part, it’s going to be a business decision that takes in a variety of factors” as to whether physicians join the collaborative accountable care organizations (ACOs) encouraged by the health reform law.
Anne W. Hance, Accountable Care Organization Resource Center, Health
“Bringing ACOs Back to Life”
Hospitals & Health Networks Daily, October 21, 2011
Anne Hance praised the final Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rule on accountable care organizations, saying that it “certainly shows an effort by CMS to be responsive to the comments it received” on a preliminary rule issued earlier.
“Losing Some Advantage”
Modern Healthcare, June 6, 2011
Anne Hance said that the health reform law’s emphasis on funneling more Medicare reimbursement payments to Medicare Advantage plans with higher quality and efficiency means that “some of the smaller plans and lower quality plans may completely on their own decide they’re going to have a hard time competing” and either consolidate or pull out of the market. Ms. Hance added, “That analysis is probably happening over the next one to three years as these payment methodologies are implemented,” noting that some analysis has already begun.
“Remaking the Market”
Managed Healthcare Executive, January 2011
Anne Hance, assessing the startup of such health reform law components as the medical loss ratio, said it has been “challenging from an implementation perspective,” adding that “it’s really been a sprint to get this first round of short-term market reforms implemented.” Ms. Hance used an analogy of sprint versus marathon for the long-term application of the law’s provisions, calling regulation-response dynamic “a cycle that will be repeated over and over again” and noting that “the ability to anticipate and respond” will be “critical” for health insurers.
2010
Anne Hance and Joel Michaels were both cited by InsideHealthPolicy.com in its August 5 story about how HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is asking state officials if they are ready to enforce consumer protection provisions of the health reform law that take effect 9/23/10. Ms. Hance noted that the law gives states the “first go” at enforcement, with the federal government stepping in if necessary. Mr. Michaels summarized Sebelius’s approach on this “sensitive issue” as “let me check with you [the states] and see if you have the capacities” for enforcement. He added that the biggest question is whether states have the human resources and funding needed to support enforcement.
Anne W. Hance, Joel L. Michaels, Health
Joel Michaels and Anne Hance commented on the new health care reform law for Healthcare Finance News (May 11). Mr. Michaels stated that many provisions of the law “are attempts to deal with perceived issues or defects in the marketplace,” adding that “there has been a tremendous emphasis on transparency.” He also cited the law’s significant efforts at insurance market reform regarding elimination of pre-existing conditions, prohibition on rescissions, guaranteed issue and the ability to renew a policy. Ms. Hance expressed skepticism that penalties for employer coverage mandates would force insurers to provide coverage as Congress intended. By contrast, she said, the law’s fines against persons who don’t purchase health benefits by 2016 make it more likely that individuals will buy coverage.
Anne W. Hance, Joel L. Michaels, Health
2009
Anne Hance was quoted by BNA’s Health Care Daily Report on June 29 regarding stepped up surveillance and enforcement actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). “The environment is really starting to change,” Ms. Hance noted, adding that she sees an “ever-increasing uptick” in CMS enforcement activities. Given that the health care reform bill before Congress expands penalties for Medicare/Medicaid coverage marketing violations, Ms. Hance warned companies in the health care sector that the climate will only get “tougher for all of you trying to do the right thing.”
Anne Hance gave an extensive interview to Medicare Part D Compliance Rules (June 2009) on new Medicare draft guidelines regarding Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D plans. Ms. Hance said of the draft document overall that "it's not so much a huge directional shift. Rather, the changes that they've incorporated are really more minor tweaks and tend to offer clarification on issues that have been outstanding." However, the guidelines on compensation for plan-employed agents and brokers are "a pretty big deal because all of a sudden [companies] would have to completely modify" compensation structures for such persons. She also noted that the draft guidelines have other confusing provisions on the marketing of MA and Part D plans. Ms. Hance advised companies not to make immediate changes "given the fact that it's draft guidance, not final guidance," but suggested that they submit comments to CMS asking for clarification.
2007
Anne Hance was quoted in the May 2007 issue of the Part D Insider in an article regarding the Medicare 2008 plan year. "In response to the many comments addressing vaccine administration reimbursement, CMS is taking time to finalize its operational guidance," said Ms. Hance.
Anne Hance and Joel Michaels were quoted in the April 6 edition of BNA's Medicare Report in an article discussing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Draft 2008 Call Letter. "CMS has more than a year of Part D operational experience and is now looking for ways to direct the role the program can play on the larger Medicare front," Ms. Hance said. "From a larger perspective, it will be interesting to see whether and how some monitoring requirements will affect compliance issues," Mr. Michaels said.
Anne W. Hance, Joel L. Michaels, Health, Managed Care
Anne Hance was quoted in the March 27 issue of BNA's Health Care Daily Report in an article regarding Medicare Part D drug beneficiaries being financially responsible for prescription drugs given to them by emergency room doctors, even if those same products would have been covered had they received them from a retail pharmacy. "Doctors also face concerns about how they can help their patients navigate Part D issues. Physicians can identify issues their patients should consider when making a plan decision, including the pharmacy network and monthly premiums," Ms. Hance said.
Anne W. Hance, Health, Managed Care
2006
Anne Hance was quoted in the March 10 issue of BNA's Medicare Report in the article "Draft Formulary, Transition Guides Have Strict Standards, New Timelines for 2007." Ms. Hance asserted the documents try to target problem areas, but mostly "maintains a similar approach" as those for the 2006 plan year. She said this is probably because CMS only had a couple of months of actual beneficiary experience to draw upon. "It will be interesting to see what the agency will do for 2008. We could potentially see significant changes," she said.
