Flood in the funding bill, Cadillac Tax delay letter and more

December 11, 2017

Funding Bill Extends NFIP until December 22

Last week, both the House and Senate passed a funding bill that continues to fund the federal government and reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Plan until December 22. This is the second time Congress included a clean NFIP reauthorization in spending legislation this year.

A similar maneuver is expected next week when Congress must pass another funding bill that continues after December 22. Until the Senate finishes its deliberations on long-term NFIP reform, The Council continues to work with other coalition members to make sure that any NFIP short-term reauthorization is included in any further government funding extensions.

The Council Urges Delay of Cadillac Tax Before End of Year

The Council, along with 35 other business organizations, sent a letter to Congress today asking for a delay in the 40 percent “Cadillac Tax” on employer-sponsored health coverage before the end of this year.

As the letter states, employers are already preparing for the 2020 plan year. They are negotiating with vendors, building out networks with their carriers, contracting with healthcare systems for value-driven care, and working out multi-year collective bargaining agreements with labor unions. All of these activities will be significantly impacted if the Cadillac Tax is not delayed.

Read the letter.

CIAB Supports Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act

The Council co-signed a letter last week to the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit in support of HR 3746, the Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2017.

This bipartisan legislation – introduced by Reps. Sean Duffy and Gwen Moore – would clarify and reinforce the original intention of the Dodd-Frank and McCarran-Ferguson Acts; namely, that the Bureau should only exercise regulatory jurisdiction over the business of insurance where it has clear authority from Congress, and that deference should be given to state insurance regulators when it comes to the business of insurance.

Read the letter.

Have Something to Say About Health Spending?

Health Affairs recently announced a multi-year journal and blog series on health spending, and is looking for contributions to the conversation. Health Affairs recognizes this conversation must broaden beyond those in health policy to include employers, hospitals, doctors, consumers and patients. Questions they want to cover range from the price of services, to affordability of new cures, to health spending versus spending on other societal resources.

Read about Health Affairs’ approach to this initiative (or submit your contribution) and check out the latest from Leader’s Edge on the healthcare cost conversation.

ACA Legislation Tracker Updated

Our legal team at Steptoe & Johnson has updated its ACA Legislation Tracker as of December 6. Recent updates are noted in the top box on the first page of the document. Click here for the PDF.

12/18 Healthcare PULSE Call Cancelled

In lieu of our December 18 Healthcare PULSE call, our Government Affairs team hosted a live webinar last week. If you missed the webinar, click here for the slides and recording. We will keep you posted on the timing of the next PULSE call.

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