On August 9, 2021, Washington Governor Inslee issued Proclamation 21-14 requiring certain classes of individuals to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination by October 18, 2021. Technically, the order mandates a vaccine in reverse by prohibiting not having a vaccination. Prohibitions. This order prohibits the following: Any Worker from engaging in work for a State Agency after…
In December, the Washington State Insurance Commissioner ordered Zenefits to charge a market price for “use of its online, cloud-based, software platform that integrates the administration of human resources, payroll, and employee benefits.” The Commissioner found that “free access to valuable software functions” constituted an illegal inducement to purchase insurance. Competing insurance brokers complained to the Commissioner that Zenefits’…
This past legislative session, the Washington House of Representatives considered regulation of third party administrators (TPAs) as recommended by the state Insurance Commissioner. After some confusion over what the Commissioner intended and what should be amended, the bill died a quiet death in committee. Policymakers quickly discovered that TPA regulation had become a surrogate for indirectly addressing…
Finding, reading, and understanding the thousands of regulations that apply to health plans can drive a sane person to drink Flint, Michigan water. But not me. My sanity has already been questioned given that I intentionally spent a lot of money to go to school so I could learn the discipline of memorizing convoluted regulations…
Words matter. The meaning and use of words matter even more. That’s why discrimination can be a great thing – if you’re talking about insurance. Why? For one reason, folks who are careless should pay more for insurance than folks who are careful. Insurers don’t care why folks are careless; insurers want to be “discriminatory”…
The Washington Insurance Commissioner has requested legislation for registration of third party administrators to protect consumers. Third party administrators (TPAs) come in all shapes and sizes and just as many flavors. Insurers typically provide most services for administration of its own health plans. Many Insurers also sell administrative services to self-funded plans which would make…
