On Friday October 6, 2017, the Trump administration released two interim final rules expanding the exemptions allowed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (the “ACA’s”) contraceptive coverage mandate. Under the ACA, employer group health plans generally are required to cover contraceptives, sterilization, and related patient education and counseling, with exemptions provided for religious
Health Reform
Assessing the Aftermath of Graham-Cassidy’s Demise

Our colleague Robert F. Atlas, President of EBG Advisors, Inc., published an advisory that will be of interest to stakeholders in the health care industry: The After-Effects of Graham-Cassidy’s Demise.
Following is an excerpt:
Taken together, the failure of the ACA repeal-and-replace effort (for now) bodes well for health care providers. The percentage of…
Replace Without Repeal?
On Monday, January 23rd, Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Patient Freedom Act of 2017 (“PFA”), the first of what may be many Republican Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) “replacement” alternatives. The PFA is notable for several reasons. It is the first replacement plan to be introduced in the 115…
FDA Continues Its De-Regulatory Trend with the Release of the Wellness Guidance
FDA published the long awaited draft guidance on wellness products last Friday. The guidance is a positive step forward for industry in that it proposes that certain general wellness products will not be subject to FDA regulation.
The draft guidance clarifies that FDA does not intend to enforce its regulations against products that are “low…
More on the ACA Employer Mandate Delay: Employers Get Welcome Relief from Penalties Until 2015, but Many Questions Remain
I’ve posted a client advisory on the recent ACA employer mandate delay, with my colleagues Frank C. Morris, Jr.; Elizabeth Bradley; and Adam Solander. We explore the ramifications and unresolved issues that employers should consider. Following is an excerpt:
In reaction to employers’ concerns about the many difficulties posed in efforts to comply with…
More on the ACA Employer Mandate Delay: Employers Get Welcome Relief from Penalties Until 2015, but Many Questions Remain
Our colleagues Kara Maciel, Frank C. Morris Jr., Elizabeth Bradley, and Adam Solander have posted a client advisory on the recent ACA employer mandate delay, exploring the ramifications and unresolved issues that employers should consider. Following is an excerpt:
In reaction to employers’ concerns about the many difficulties posed in efforts to comply with the Employer
…
Supreme Court Reviews Health Care Reform: What This Means for Employers
On March 26, 27 and 28, 2012, the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”) heard oral arguments in a series of cases, including Department of Health and Human Services, et al. v. State of Florida, et al, which addresses the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable…