In this episode, Suzanne and Chase look at the benefits compliance environment since the midterm elections. The two start off with a recap of election results and then immediately dive into the impact a divided Congress could have on the ACA. There could be bi-partisan support on simplified reporting and on repeal of the Cadillac tax. The two also discuss the Texas v. United States case involving the Republican challenge to the constitutionality of the ACA in consideration of the 2019 repeal of the ACA’s individual mandate and assess how a divided Congress might react to a loss of protections for those with pre-existing conditions. Chase outlines issues to consider post-election on prescription drug prices, medical tourism, the issues of a single-payer system (sometimes referred to as “Medicare for All”) and Medicaid expansion (and how that might interact with the employer group market). The two close with post-election impact on the court challenge of the DOL’s association health plan regulations.
