A new law in Maryland is creating a stir in health policy circles across the country as the debate escalates over the future of employer-based health coverage. Last month, the Maryland legislature approved a bill that basically requires Wal-Mart Stores to spend at least 8% of its payroll on employee healthcare or pay the difference to support the state Medicaid program. Union leaders and consumer advocates who backed the measure predict that it will generate similar action in many state capitols.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-A new law in Maryland is creating a stir in health policy circles across the country as the debate escalates over the future of employer-based health coverage. Last month, the Maryland legislature approved a bill that basically requires Wal-Mart Stores to spend at least 8% of its payroll on employee healthcare or pay the difference to support the state Medicaid program. Union leaders and consumer advocates who backed the measure predict that it will generate similar action in many state capitols.
Business organizations blasted the bill as doing little to expand access to healthcare for the uninsured and talked about challenging the legality of the new coverage mandate. While the Maryland law applies to employers with more than 10,000 workers, other states are looking at measures that may set a mandate on firms with only 1,000 or 2,000 employees, which could affect retail and restaurant chains.
The Maryland action reflects broader national concern about eroding employer health benefits. Wal-Mart has been under attack in particular for failing to provide coverage for half of its U.S. employees, which include many part-timers. However, employers note that most of the uninsured who have jobs work for small companies with fewer than 10 workers.
According to AHRQ, only 28% of American workers were offered plans in 2003 that do not require them to pay a portion of the health insurance premium, down from 35% in 1998. More than half of workers at small companies have access to no-premium coverage, compared with about one-fifth at large firms.
Breaking Down Health Plans, HSAs, AI With Paul Fronstin of EBRI
November 19th 2024Featured in this latest episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast is Paul Fronstin, director of health benefits research at EBRI, who shed light on the evolving landscape of health benefits with editors of Managed Healthcare Executive.
Listen
In this latest episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast, Briana Contreras, an editor with MHE had the pleasure of meeting Loren McCaghy, director of consulting, health and consumer engagement and product insight at Accenture, to discuss the organization's latest report on U.S. consumers switching healthcare providers and insurance payers.
Listen
More Results for Nerandomilast Reported by BI, This Time for Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis
February 15th 2025Several weeks after reporting positive results for nerandomilast for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Boehringer Ingelheim reported positive results from a similar phase 3 trial assessing its PDE4B inhibitor as a treatment for progressive pulmonary fibrosis.
Read More