John Garner’s Blog

  • ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON HEALTH CARE REFORM ISSUES:Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:09:15 +0000On February 9, 2012, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury issued answers to frequently asked questions regarding automatic enrollment, employer shared responsibility, and waiting periods. The Departments also outlined various approaches they are considering proposing in future regulations or other guidance. The Affordable Care Act directs an employer subject to [...]
  • HHS POSTS FAQs ON ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS:Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:27:06 +0000The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has posted a series of answers to frequently asked questions on essential health benefits (EHB). On December 16, 2011, HHS released a Bulletin describing the approach it intends to take in future rulemaking to define EHB under the Affordable Care Act. The answers to these questions are [...]
  • HHS ANNOUNCES CONSUMERS WILL BEGIN RECEIVING INFORMATION:Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:53:04 +0000On February 16, 2012, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that consumers will soon begin receiving information on the value of their health insurance coverage, and some will receive rebates from insurance companies that spend less than 80 or 85 percent of their premium dollars on health care.  The Affordable Care Act [...]
  • MARRIAGE EQUALITY ACT SIGNED IN WASHINGTON STATE:Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:06:43 +0000On February 13, 2012, before hundreds of marriage equality advocates and supporters, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed legislation that makes Washington the 7th state in the nation to allow same-sex couples to marry.  Washington now joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York plus the District of Columbia in allowing same-sex marriages. Gregoire’s signature [...]
  • WAL-MART TO PAY $275,000 TO EMPLOYEE FIRED AFTER SURGERY:Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:25:59 +0000Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will pay $275,000 to settle a disability lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC. In its lawsuit, the EEOC charged that the company denied a 12-year employee of its East Tennessee distribution center in Midway, Tennessee, a reasonable accommodation after he had cancer surgery, which left him with weakness [...]