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Issues in Health Reform

Is it legal for the Obama administration to change the date of implementation of the employer mandate?

This editorial by a lawyer in The Washington Post suggests that the administration does not have the authority to say that the date for the employer mandate be delayed.  It will be interesting to watch this particular part of the debate play out.  These has been lots of support from businesses for this delay, perhaps enough that this kind of tweaking of this massive law could make it through Congress to the President’s desk for his signature.  It appears that that might be legally necessary.

Curious that there has not been such concern over the CLASS Act, Title VIII of the Act, “Community Living Assistance Services and Support.” This is basically a bill that instituted a federally run long term care insurance program with no federal dollars. It was put on the back burner because a Department of Health and Human Services analysis revealed there would be many problems with implementation.  Most likely, it will never be implemented. I’m not sure why it was allowed to be mothballed if the administration doesn’t have authority.  The nuances here are clearly beyond my expertise.

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