Media Mentions
2010
“HHS OKs First 2,000 Recipients in $5 Billion Early-Retiree Health Insurance Program”
Best’s Insurance News, September 1, 2010
Joel Michaels spoke about the federal government’s approval of the first round of applicants for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, which covers health insurance for retirees between 55 and 65. Mr. Michaels pointed out that the program is “first come, first served,” adding, “If you haven’t gotten in line in time, you’ll be out of luck” to receive funding coverage. He also noted that insurers have been permitted to submit claims on behalf of participating plan sponsors, which will also drain funding.
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
Joel Michaels spoke to Best’s Insurance News on May 6 about the health reform law’s $5 billion program to help employers cover health benefit costs for enrolled retirees who are too young for Medicare. Mr. Michaels said that, because they may submit claims on behalf of participating plan sponsors, health insurers need to be aware of the program, “because they’re going to get questions from their employer purchasers. There may be some administrative issues for the insurers to have to deal with or address.” He added that interested employers and insurers should move quickly before program funding is depleted: “It’s first-come, first-serve. If you haven’t gotten in line in time, you’ll be out of luck.”
Joel Michaels was quoted on April 26 by Best’s Insurance News regarding the payment cuts imposed by the health reform bill on Medicare Advantage, a program that has allowed insurers to offer expanded benefits in comparison to basic Medicare. Although some higher cost insurers may be hurt by the cuts, Mr. Michaels said that “plans who are able to manage the[ir] costs fairly well will do OK.”
Joel Michaels discussed several key aspects of the new health reform bill’s impact on insurers with Best’s Insurance News on April 19. He said that if individual mandate penalties and lower-income subsidies lead more people to use the centralized state exchanges for standardized health benefit plans, “maybe this could work well for insurers.” Mr. Michaels also touched on the issue of medical loss ratio (MLR) rules, which mandate the minimum percentages of premiums that insurers must pay on health care costs. “The big question for MLR will be the standard” for administrative costs, he said. “How do you define what’s included under claims costs and non-claims costs?”
Joel Michaels commented for Reuters on March 30 about the health care reform law’s substantial increase in the individuals eligible for the Medicaid program. He noted that, while the increase could give insurers leverage to get better rates from providers, power could shift to primary-care doctors, who will be in even greater demand. “A big risk going forward will be the ability of the [insurance] plans to control the payments and costs at the provider level,” Mr. Michaels said. “The provider dynamic issue is the most uncertain piece.”
Joel Michaels gave his thoughts on healthcare reform to Legal BisNow on January 28. “Scaling back health reform will be harder than it looks,” Mr. Michaels stated. “Eliminating consideration of preexisting conditions, for example, doesn't work without requiring individuals to purchase insurance. The individual parts are so interdependent that dealing with only one feature can create other imbalances that are problematic.”
2009
Joel Michaels was quoted in a September 24 American University American Today summary of a panel discussion, held at the Washington College of law, which discussed the health care reform debate. Mr. Michaels discussed the political opposition that the issue has generated, and noted, “When you talk about the public option, people say this is the government’s first step into creating a national health care system, and we don’t like it.”
2007
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
2006
Joel Michaels was quoted in the March 10 issue of BNA's Medicare Report in the special report "Draft Formulary, Transition Guides Have Strict Standards, New Timelines for 2007." Mr. Michaels said the transition document is a reaction to he litany of problems that have occurred during the benefit’s implementation, particularly for residents of long-term care facilities and patients already stabilized on medications for psychiatric illnesses.
2003
Joel Michaels was featured in the October 20 issue of Legal Times magazine in “The Best Lawyers: Health Law” section.
