DOL answers more questions on ACA: 5 highlights

by Jared Bilski

New Obamacare guidance from the agencies responsible for implementing the ACA includes a lot of important info on health plans and cost-sharing. 

The feds’ (DOL, HHS and IRS) 31st FAQ on healthcare reform answers a lot of important questions for employers about the ACA.

But it also delves into other federal laws such as the Mental Health Parity Act and the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA).

Some of the highlights employers should know from the 12-question FAQ:

Preventive services

The first few questions in the FAQ deal with the preparation for a common preventive procedure: a colonoscopy.

According to the feds, the preparation is an integral part of the actual procedure and, generally, must be covered without any cost-sharing. Specifically, the feds mentioned bowel preparation medications given before the colonoscopy.

However, when utilizing reasonable medical management techniques, plans can create a standard exception form – which can be modeled after the Medicare Part D Coverage Determination Request Form – so providers can prescribe specific services or FDA-approved items.

Click here for entire article.