Resources

Client Alerts, News Articles, Blog Posts, & Multimedia

Everything you need to know about BMD and the industry.

Ohio Permitting Deferral of Health Care Premiums for Employer Plans

Client Alert

Effective March 20, 2020 and continuing through the expiration of the state of emergency declared by Governor DeWine on March 9, 2020, the Ohio Department of Insurance is requiring all health insurance companies operating in Ohio to give their insureds the option of deferring premium payments coming due, interest free, for up to 60 calendar days from each original premium due date.  See Department of Insurance Bulletin 2020-03.

The Ohio Department of Insurance is also requiring insurers to:

  • permit employers to continue covering an employee under group policies even if the employee would otherwise become ineligible due to a decrease in hours worked per week; and
  • permit employers to continue providing coverage to employees under group policies regardless of any “actively at work” or similar eligibility requirements in the policy.

Additionally, the Ohio Department of Insurance is prohibiting insurers from increasing premium rates based on an employer group’s decreased enrollment or participation due to COVID-19. Click here for a link to the full bulletin.

If you have any questions, please contact Adam D. Fuller at adfuller@bmdllc.com, or feel free to contact your primary BMD Attorney.


No Surprises Act Update: Federal Judge Strikes Portions of the No Surprises Act

In a win for providers, a Texas federal court granted the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA) motion for summary judgment and struck down portions of a federal rule that establishes a reimbursement rate arbitration process between payors and providers under the No Surprises Act (NSA).

Ohio Modernizes and Improves its Laws Governing Limited Liability Companies

Effective Feb. 11, 2022, the Ohio Revised Limited Liability Company Act (“Revised Act”) now governs all limited liability companies formed under Ohio law. The law updates and replaces the existing LLC Act and has important implications for business owners in Ohio. Passage of the Revised Act makes Ohio one of only 16 states that permits the formation of “Series” LLCs. The legislation is intended to be one of the most progressive LLC acts in the country, but retains the terminology used in Ohio’s current LLC act.

Wondering What’s Happening with Telehealth Legislation in Ohio?

In December 2021, Governor DeWine signed into law HB 122, which will expand telehealth services in Ohio. The law takes effect in March 2022 and is in response to more patients relying on telehealth over the past two years during the height of the COVID pandemic, and more providers becoming comfortable with delivering services virtually. Telehealth is now a normalized healthcare delivery system nationwide. Beyond the safety benefits inherent in telehealth services, telehealth has made healthcare more accessible and more affordable for more people.

Ohio Loan Programs to Boost Minority-Owned Businesses

Ohio has created two new loan programs to enhance growth of minority and women owned businesses in Ohio. The Ohio 2022-2023 operating budget includes the Women’s Business Enterprise Loan Program and Ohio Micro-Loan Program.

Supreme Court Upholds CMS Vaccination Mandate for Health Care Providers

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the COVID-19 vaccine-or-test mandate for employers with more than 100 employees (the OSHA ETS) and upheld the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for employees of health care providers who receive Medicaid or Medicare funding (the CMS rule).