March 2013 Reform Matters Conference Call Agenda

CONFERENCE CALL AGENDA
Hosted by the National Women’s Law Center
March 13, 2013

3:00 pm Eastern

1. Welcome & Introductions

• Introduction and review of agenda

 Dania Palanker, Senior Counsel at the National Women’s Law Center

 2. Women’s Access to Preventive Services Affirmed by HHS

On February 20, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Section 2713 preventive services provision of the Affordable Care Act, including the women’s preventive services.  Sharon Levin, Director of Federal Reproductive Health Policy will walk through a recent fact sheet by released by the National Women’s Law Center describing women’s access to preventive services that are affirmed in these FAQs.

• Sharon Levin, Director of Federal Reproductive Health Policy, National Women’s Law Center

3. Exemptions to Individual Responsibility and Minimum Essential Coverage

On last month’s call, we discussed proposed rules released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Treasury addressing the individual requirement to maintain health insurance.  These proposed rules include information on what types of coverage qualify as minimum essential coverage – which is the term for the type of coverage individual need to maintain under the law to avoid a penalty – and exemptions from the requirement.  Comments on the HHS rule are due on Monday, March 18 and Danielle Garrett, Health Policy Analyst will discuss the National Women’s Law Center template comments and Dania Palanker, Senior Counsel, will discuss additional issues in the Treasury comments.

• Danielle Garrett, Health Policy Analyst, National Women’s Law Center
• Dania Palanker, Senior Counsel, National Women’s Law Center

4. Overview of Final Regulations

There have been many final regulations issued in recent weeks.  The Essential Health Benefits rule will ensure all plans sold in the individual and small group market include maternity coverage.  The Market Reform rule will end gender rating.  Dania Palanker will provide a brief overview of issues important to women in these and other final rules that have been released.

• Dania Palanker, Senior Counsel, National Women’s Law Center

5. Updates, announcements, future calls:

•  Dania Palanker, Senior Counsel, National Women’s Law Center

To register for upcoming conference calls: http://action.nwlc.org/healthcarereform

To suggest future agenda topics, or make an announcement on a call, please contact us at reformmatters@nwlc.org

Materials for the Call:

Women’s Access to Preventive Services Affirmed by HHS

http://www.nwlc.org/resource/women%E2%80%99s-access-preventive-services-affirmed-hhs

Affordable Care Act Implementation FAQS – Set 12 (including information on preventive services)

http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/factsheets/aca_implementation_faqs12.html

NWLC Template Comments for HHS Proposed Regulations on Exemptions to Individual Responsibility and Minimum Essential Coverage Link to Template comments below. For a word version of the comments please email Dania at dpalanker@nwlc.org. 

Regulations and Guidance on the Health Care Law from the Centers for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, CMS, HHS

http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/regulations/index.html

Document(s):

NWLC Template MEC Comments

March 2013 Agenda

marchreformmatters.mp3