The Phia Group Blog Posts

Empowering Plans: P177 – Entering the Danger Zone: Cross-Plan Offsetting

On December 8, 2023
Attorneys Jon Jablon and Cindy Merrell discuss the practice of cross-plan offsetting and the recent settlement between the Department of Labor and EmblemHealth Inc. Who wins and who loses when a TPA decides to use cross-plan offset?

MAHP 2023 Annual Health Care Conference: Health Care Affordability, Quality and Equity in a Post Pandemic World

On November 28, 2023
Last November, the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (MAHP) Annual Conference focused on healthcare challenges and opportunities – both from a regional and national perspective -- amidst a receding pandemic. The 2022 conference, headlined by then-Governor Charlie Baker, homed in on two topics: a.) healthcare equity and b.) regulation of provider prices. Twelve months later, on November 17, 2023, the MAHP 2023 Annual Conference, held once again at the Seaport Hotel in downtown Boston, had an eerily familiar theme: “Health Care Affordability, Quality and Equity in a Post Pandemic World.”

Minor Members and Third Party Settlements

On November 27, 2023
Does a self-funded ERISA plan have a right of recovery from a minor’s third-party liability claim? The answer is yes. However, there are various factors that can influence the Plan’s recovery in these circumstances. Federal courts across the country have recently considered a few challenges to a health plan’s right of recovery and clarified an ERISA plan’s right of recovery through reimbursement. What is abundantly clear is good plan language is vital to a health plan’s recovery.

Empowering Plans: P176 – Copay Accumulator Programs Take a Hit: What’s Next?

On November 21, 2023
Attorneys Brady Bizarro and Andrew Silverio discuss a recent federal court decision that saw drug manufacturers and patients alike score a win against copay accumulator programs – programs that help maximize the manufacturer assistance available to patients but decline to count those amounts toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. With the latest rule being struck down, where does the law stand now and what will happen next?

Strategizing for 2024: New AI Regulations and Transparency Rules Impacting Healthcare

On November 15, 2023
Goodbye 2023, hello 2024. The future has arrived, and we thank you for your efforts to date; the robots will take it from here. Just kidding… maybe? For those who are tracking developments in Artificial Intelligence, this technology is both intimidating and exciting. Regardless of your position on the matter, you won’t be able to escape the meaningful impact A/I will have on our industry. We believe that with the right measures, A/I will be a tool we can use for good in the advancement of our mission to provide the best benefits for the lowest cost. Coupled with other regulatory developments – such as price transparency, a new emphasis on quality metrics, and general public engagement – and 2024 might be one of the best years ever, at least for those who prepare now. Join The Phia Group’s team as they discuss these and other technological and legal improvements that are sure to dictate how you survive and thrive in the coming year.

Being Mindful of Telemedicine Access

On November 9, 2023
From a healthcare standpoint, two of the most significant byproducts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been the exploding popularity of Telemedicine, the practice of providing medical and mental health services remotely, and a heightened awareness of many Americans’ longstanding mental health issues. Due to a confluence of prolonged extenuating circumstances, it became readily apparent to healthcare providers, politicians, social workers, employers, teachers, and parents on both sides of the Mississippi that a.) the inimitable convenience of virtual healthcare does not compromise quality (at least for some patients and practitioners) and b.) many Americans experiencing emotional distress have long been suffering in silence.

Empowering Plans: P175 – No Surprises Act Brings More Surprises & Other Surprises for 2024

On November 9, 2023
Join Provider Relations Senior Attorney, Brian O’Hara, and Vice President of Consulting, Kelly Dempsey, for a quick rundown of changes to be prepared for as we near 2024. While there are the regular recurring changes to ACA and IRS out-of-pocket limits, this podcast will uncover a couple lesser-known items hidden in some NSA proposed rules and a couple other items for 2024 that might have fallen off the radar, including COVID-19 tolling requirements. (COVID may be over but the impact on certain items could extend well into 2024…).

Update on the Federal IDR Process

On October 27, 2023
Recently there has been significant discussion about the federal IDR process. The IDR process is an important tool of the No Surprises Act (“NSA”) as it resolves claims for payment for out-of-network items and services. It not only provides a procedure for settling disputed claims but is also an integral mechanism for supporting the NSA’s protection for plan members against potentially crippling expenses from balance billing for high-cost out-of-network claims.

Empowering Plans: P174 – PCORI and Parity and Lawsuits, Oh My!

On October 26, 2023
It’s the spookiest time of the year, and I’m not just talking about renewal season. In this Halloween episode of the Empowering Plans podcast, Jennifer McCormick and Nick Bonds talk through some of the scary issues creeping up on health plans: rising PCORI fees, proposed regulations on mental health parity rules, and two fascinating court cases that may have significant implications for ERISA plans going forward. But don’t be scared, Phia is here to help!

Empowering the 2023 SIIA National Conference

On October 26, 2023
Earlier this month, the self-insurance industry’s most prominent thought-leaders, innovative service providers, and esteemed subject matter experts convened at the 2023 Self-Insurance Institute of America (SIIA) National Conference at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. The SIIA National Conference, which this year covered such pressing topics as artificial intelligence, surprise billing, emerging trends impacting the employer stop-loss market, and recent legislative and regulatory updates, is widely considered to be the self-insurance industry’s annual marquee event, bringing together hundreds of industry professionals including TPAs, vendors (there were over 950 booths representing industry vendors stationed in the exhibitor hall), brokers, captive managers, stop-loss carriers, and solution providers.

Cell and Gene Therapy: Industry and Claim Cost Impact

On October 18, 2023
Drugs are on our mind! In our industry, they are what can make or break the bank. Is this an episode of Breaking Bad? No – It’s American healthcare. From specialty drugs and gene therapy to pharmacogenomics and international drug importation, prices aren’t the only thing getting high. Join The Phia Group’s innovators as they discuss frightening trends in drug costs, define the risks and present solutions you can implement today.

Empowering Plans: P173 – Gene-y in a Bottle: A Magical Overview of Cell and Gene Therapy

On October 12, 2023
Your wish is our command! Join Ron Peck and Corey Crigger as they discuss how this emerging treatment can impact self-funded health plans. With prices as high as $3.5 million, you can’t just wish for a strategy for dealing with these therapies, you must plan for it. Ron and Corey discuss the motivations to cover, the future benefits, and the concerns they are hearing from clients. You don’t know what we can see, so join us on a magic carpet ride around this life saving, but costly treatment.

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