- The Biden administration released a final rule that would reinstate eligibility for federal family planning funds to organizations that provide abortions or abortion referrals. The final rule, which will take effect on November 8, reverses a Trump-era regulation that barred organizations that provide or refer for abortions or share a physical space with an abortion provider from receiving federal funds through Title X. The rule also allow such organizations to qualify for future grants for family planning activities and share a space with an abortion provider. (Press release here; Articles here and here)
- The CMS released new guidance informing employer health plans that they cannot deny benefits to unvaccinated workers. Employers can offer premium discounts to customers who decide to get the shot, as long as the discounts do not exceed 30 percent of the total cost of employee-only coverage and employees are given an opportunity to qualify for the reward at least yearly. The document also specifies that such discounts don’t count toward the affordability requirements under the ACA. (Article here)
October 5, 2021
Payers