Recently, Old Line Government Affairs moderated a panel for the Greater Baltimore Committee’s Breakfast Briefing event series. The panel, which featured Catherine Grason of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Jay Duke of Waring-Ahearn Insurance Agency Inc, and Rhett Buttle of Public Private Strategies, discussed the Affordable Care Act and what it means for business.
Here are a few take-aways for those who weren’t able to attend:
-At the national level, the constitutionality of the ACA is being challenged in court in the lawsuit Texas v. Azar brought by 18 state attorneys general. The outcome may not be known for some time as it could be appealed to the Supreme Court.
-The Maryland legislature is preparing to introduce legislation this coming session to put into Maryland law, or clarify, that ACA consumer protection provisions are put into place in the event the ACA is found to be unconstitutional.
-The Maryland legislature will also explore the possibility of an individual mandate being required in Maryland
-The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange is seeking an allowance for small businesses to receive tax incentives on a monthly basis instead of at the end of the year, thus providing cash flow-relief covered in health insurance expenses.
-Maryland legislation from last year’s session created an advisory group to find ways in which enrollment can be made as easy as possible and to study an individual mandate.
To learn more about regulatory issues that could affect your business, follow this blog and our podcast, or contact us to learn how Old Line Government Affairs can help your business grow and thrive in Maryland.
