Health Care Reform

On 3/23/2010 President Obama signed the health care reform bill into law. While there are still differences that need to be reconciled between the various versions of the healthcare bill here is the timeline for the health care reform changes and how Obama’s health plan (”ObamaCare”) and health care reform affects you and your health insurance:

New Health Care Bill: Changes Happening in 2010
Children age 26 and younger will be able to remain covered under their parents health insurance plans (this is increased from past age limits which were anywhere from age 22-25).
Medicare recipients will receive a $250 rebate to help in closing the “doughnut hole” (with the goal being to close the doughnut hole completely by 2020).
Health insurance companies will be banned from excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions for children.
Adults with pre-existing conditions will be eligible for coverage into high risk health insurance pools until future health care exchanges are up and running.
Health insurance companies will be prohibited from levying annual limits and lifetime limits on coverage.
All new health insurance plans must provide coverage for preventative services with no out of pocket cost (all health plans will be forced to comply by 2018).
Those companies that offer health benefits for early retirees ages 55 to 64 will receive assistance from a temporary reinsurance program.
All new health insurance plans will have to comply with new regulations that lay out an appeals process for when health insurance claims are denied.
Small businesses that employ less than 50 people are eligible for a tax credit equal to 35% of their health insurance premiums (this increases to 50% by 2014).

New Health Care Bill: Changes Happening in 2011
Medicare will offer wellness visits for free one a year and personalized prevention plans. All new Medicare plans will offer preventative services with no out of pocket cost.
Seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage or the Prescription Drug Plan will receive a 50% discount on brand name drugs immediately with additional prescription drug discounts to follow.
The current penalty tax of 10% on all distributions from a Health Savings Account before the age of 65 on nonqualified medical expenses will increase to 20%.
A small business alternative to a cafeteria plan will be presented so that small businesses can offer tax free benefits without having to deal with the administrative costs of a cafeteria plan.
Everyone earning more than $200,000 as an individual or $250,000 for those who file married filing jointly will have their Medicare payroll tax increased from the current 1.45% to 2.35%.

Health Care Bill: Changes Happening in 2013
A $2,500 annual cap will be placed on all contributions to flexible spending accounts (amount indexed for inflation each subsequent year).
The current tax deduction that employers receive for subsidizing the prescription drug costs of their employees who are eligible for Medicare Part D will be done away with.
A 2.9% excise tax on the sale of medical devices will be put into place. Certain common items like glasses, hearing aids, etc. are exempted from this tax.
The hospital insurance tax will increase .09% for those who earn more than $200,000 ($250,000 for those married filing jointly).
Additional requirements on health insurance companies to implement uniform standards for exchanging health care information, electronic communication, and other measures to reduce insurance company administrative costs.
The minimum threshold for being able to claim an itemized deduction for health care expenses increased from 7.5% to 10% of AGI although those over the age of 65 can stay at the 7.5% threshold through 2016.

Health Care Reform: Changes Happening in 2014
All US citizens will be forced to have health insurance coverage considered acceptable by the US Government or else pay a fine of $95 in 2014, $325 in 2015, $695 in 2016 (capped at 2.5% of AGI). All of the fines are per person per year except for families have a cap on the total fine of $2,250 and the fine amount for children is half of the adult fine.
Eligibility standards are implemented for newly formed health care exchanges.
Businesses with 50 or more employees will face a fine of either $2,000 or $3,000 per employee for not offering health insurance coverage.
Group health insurance plans have a maximum waiting period of 90 days.
Health insurance companies are prohibited from using an individual’s health status to issue a policy or renew a policy. All pre-existing conditions must be covered and higher health insurance rates cannot be levied because of health, gender, etc.
The eligibility standards for Medicaid will be changed to 133% of poverty for those who are not considered elderly.
New annual fees will be levied on all health insurance providers based on an insurance companies market share and whose total premiums exceed $25 million.

Health Care Reform Bill: Changes Happening in 2018
The “Cadillac” health insurance plan tax will kick in. An excise tax will be levied on all employer provided health insurance plans costing more than $27,500 for families and $10,200 for individuals (with increased limits for those considered to be in “high risk” professions).

http://sn132w.snt132.mail.live.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0

Immunization Requirements Changing for Students in Fall 2009

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
www.dhh.louisiana.gov

Immunization Requirements Changing for Students in Fall 2009

For Release On:

May 28, 2009


Baton Rouge: Now that the 2008-2009 school year has ended in Louisiana, it's
time for parents to start on some summer homework for their kids' health.

Louisiana has issued new vaccination requirements for students, effective
this coming 2009-2010 school year, and it's not too soon for parents to make
sure their children's shots are up to date.

In addition to the scheduled immunizations already required in state law,
two doses of Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine will be required for children
four years and older who are entering kindergarten, pre-kindergarten,
daycare or HeadStart programs in the fall. Also, children who are 11 years
old or are entering the sixth grade must have proof of all age-appropriate
immunizations, including a new meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine
requirement.

The chicken pox and meningitis vaccines have been recommended for several
years. However, by requiring these immunizations for school attendance, the
State of Louisiana is now taking an important step to protect Louisiana's
children, from individual kids to entire classrooms, from disease.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is working closely with
schools to collect students' immunization data to monitor and ensure kids
are on their proper vaccination schedules.

State law already requires standard immunizations for diseases like
hepatitis B, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella for all children depending
on their age. See the list at the end of this press release for details.

Dr. Frank Welch, medical director for the Immunization Program, urges
parents to contact their health care provider to make appointments for their
children, or to ask questions about vaccinations.

"Proper vaccination sometimes takes more than one visit, and your child is
not fully protected until all vaccines are finished," Dr. Welch said.
"However, if you show proof that he or she is in the process of receiving a
vaccine series, your child can enter and remain in school."

Louisiana residents needing a copy of their immunization record or their
child's record, can get a copy from any parish health unit, regardless of
where the shots were received or where the individual currently resides.
This is provided by the DHH Louisiana Immunization Network for Kids
Statewide (LINKS) database. This system allows providers to track the
immunization status of children from birth. The LINKS database is also used
to help ensure that all children are properly vaccinated and, in the event
of a public health emergency, allows health officials to easily know who has
been immunized against a specific disease.

For a list of parish health units, visit
http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/? ID=223. If your physician has not
enrolled in the LINKS system, the best way to get your immunization records
is to contact your physician directly.

If you are unable to get your records directly from your health care
provider, the LINKS system or any other method, you will need to get re-
vaccinated in order to get a new record.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals serves to protect and
promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and
rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH,
visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov.

11 YEARS AND OLDER, Entering 6th grade or higher

One (1) Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) NEW

Three (3) doses Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine

Two (2) doses Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine

Two (2) doses of Varicella vaccine

Tetanus Diphtheria Acellular Pertussis vaccine (TdaP)

4 YEARS AND OLDER, Entering kindergarten, Pre-K, daycare or HeadStart

Two (2) doses of Varicella vaccine NEW

Two (2) doses of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine

Three (3) doses of Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine

Booster dose of Diphtheria Tetanus Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) vaccine

Booster dose of Poliovirus (Polio) vaccine

UNDER 4 YEARS, Entering pre-K, daycare, or HeadStart

Three (3) doses ofDiphtheria Tetanus Acellular Pertussis vaccine (DTaP)

Two to three doses ofInactivated Poliovirus vaccine (IPV)

Three (3) doses of Haemophilus Influenza Type B vaccine (Hib)

Three (3) doses ofHepatitis B vaccine (HBV)

Three (3) doses ofPneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV7 - for children less
than 24 months of age)

One (1) dose of Varicella vaccine

Additional Contact Information:

Contact Name Contact Phone
Rene' Milligan (225) 342-7913
Jolie Adams (225) 342-4742