With the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, there is much speculation on how this legislation will change clinical practice. While the unknowns are greater than what we currently understand about the ACA, the AASM has been analyzing what is in store for sleep medicine. Over the next several weeks, the AASM website will provide a synopsis of certain provisions in the bill. This week will focus on Changes to Private Insurance.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is accepting applications from eligible candidates for the position of Medical Officer at the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR). The Medical Officer is expected to focus on sleep disorder medicine and the development of a portfolio in sleep research training.

The Affordable Care Act includes an array of tax changes affecting individuals, employers, medical service providers, drug companies, health insurers and other businesses. AASM government analysts provide a synopsis of provisions of the bill that effect taxes.

Sixty-one percent of businesses expect to pay more for their workers' health coverage when the Affordable Care Act fully takes effect in 2014, according to a survey of 1,203 companies conducted by Mercer. The survey found that 20 percent of respondents said they expect their costs to increase by at least 5 percent.

Beginning in 2014, individuals who purchase health insurance coverage through the new health insurance exchanges will be eligible for financial assistance if their income is no more than 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). These amounts are updated for inflation annually and vary by family size. In 2010, this amount is $43,320 for individuals and $88,200 for a family of four.

In a recent survey, 31 percent of physicians indicated that they were unwilling to accept any new Medicaid patients. An article in the Health Affairs disseminated data from the 2011 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

Large employers expect health care costs to increase by about 7% next year, according to a survey by the National Business Group on Health (NBGH). The expected increase for 2013 is about the same as what employers projected in 2012.

With the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, there is much speculation on how this legislation will change clinical practice. While the unknowns are greater than what we currently understand about the ACA, the AASM has been analyzing what is in store for sleep medicine. Over the next several weeks, the AASM website will provide a synopsis of certain provisions in the bill. This week will focus on the expansion of public programs.

 About 53% of U.S. workers say they are not confident that they will be able to find similar or better health coverage in the insurance exchanges than they currently receive through their employers, according to a survey by the National Business Group on Health. The survey found that health insurance is the most vital benefit that employers can offer, with 87% of respondents saying that health insurance is very or extremely important, up from 84% in a similar 2007 survey.

With the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, there is much speculation on how this legislation will change clinical practice. While the unknowns are greater than what we currently understand about the ACA, the AASM has been analyzing what is in store for sleep medicine. Over the next several weeks, the AASM website will provide a synopsis of certain provisions in the bill. This week will focus on employer requirements.