1. Kristin Leighty, Government Affairs Coordinator, NAHU
Legislative Update
October 12, 2011
Kristin Leighty, Government Affairs Coordinator, NAHU

2. NAHU Government Affairs team
Laurel Call, Sr. Vice President and Counsel – Region 6
Jessica Waltman, Sr. VP of Government Affairs – Region 2
Pam Mitroff, Director of State Affairs – Illinois, Regions 4, 7 and 8
Brooke Bell, Director of State Affairs – Region 1, 3 & 5
Kristin Leighty, Government Affairs Coordinator

3. Exchange Developments
Deadline Postponed for Proposed Regulation Comments
October 31 deadline for comment submission now
NAHU is finalizing comments and will be sending to HHS shortly
HHS Wraps Up Six-City Exchange Listening Tour
Exchange Level One and Level Two Grants
HHS Unveils “Partnership” Options
Federal fallback exchange framework unveiled – “Affordable Insurance Exchange Partnership Options Initiative” with three partnership options:
State Plan Management
State Consumer Assistance
Both Plan Management and Consumer Assistance
HHS Announces Federal Exchange Vendors

4. Congressional & Federal Activity
Grassroots Activity
Cosponsor total at 131!
Keep up the grassroots pressure with Operation Shout! advocacy messages
Congress Back in Session
Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) sent letter blasting MLR impact on agents and brokers to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Increasing pressure on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to achieve a regulatory solution to MLR
Future Goals include: Regulatory action by HHS on MLR issue and/or the passage of federal legislation to remove broker compensation from the MLR requirement
Working with Senate offices to introduce a Democrat-sponsored Senate companion bill
NAIC still eyeing the MLR issue

5. IOM Essential Benefits Report Released
Institute of Medicine Releases Much-Anticipated Essential Benefits Report last Friday, Oct. 7
- Report concludes that the EHB (essential health benefit package) should be defined by what is currently typical in the small-employer market
- Recommends a yearly-public hearing process for evaluating the benefits package
- Report stresses the importance of making health insurance affordable
EHB standards apply only to individual and small groups that are fully insured.
- The Treasury/HHS announced in August that a minimum value standard (still to be defined) will be used for large group/self-funded compliance

6. Developments in the PPACA Legal Challenges
Obama Administration seeks a Supreme Court decision on constitutionality question
Justice Department chose not to ask the 11th circuit court of appeals to re-hear the pivotal case but will appeal directly to the Supreme Court
The suit is the largest challenge to the health reform law including 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Business
The Administration has until November to issue their Supreme Court appeal
With a direct appeal from the Administration it greatly increases the odds that the High Court will hear this case
The timing of a final ruling is still left largely up to the justices, who may be cautious about ruling on such a high-profile case in the midst of an election.

7. PPACA’S CLASS ACT Under Fire
CLASS Act Investigation
Bicameral Republican Repeal CLASS Working Group releases critical report charging many in the Administration from keeping doubts about the CLASS Act from Congress and the American Public in an effort to pass PPACA.
Critics use this report to fuel calls for CLASS repeal
Rumors Fly that the CLASS Act Office is Closing at HHS
Lead HHS CLASS Act Actuary Bob Yee sends s to his colleagues saying he is leaving his position immediately because the CLASS Act office at HHS is closing.
What is the significance?

8. 1212 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 1100
Mark Your Calendar…
NAHU’s 2012 Capitol Conference
January 23-25, 2012
Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
NAHU is Moving!
Office will be closed Friday, October 28 in order to move
New Address:
1212 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, D.C
Phone:
Fax:

9. Next Legislative Update:
THANK YOU!!
Next Legislative Update:
November 9 at 1:00PM EDT