TGIF

A reader of Wednesday's FEHBlog inquired how Modern Healthcare picks the most influential people in healthcare. The answer is right here.

Govexec and FedSmith take note of the fact that yesterday was the deadline for public comment on OPM's proposed rule extending FEHBP coverage with the full government contribution to temporary, seasonal, and intermittent employees who work on average at least 130 hours per month for at least 90 days. According to regulations.gov, OPM received 85 public comments. OPM proposed this rule in compliance with the ACA's employer shared responsibility mandate. It is expected to be finalized effective January 1, 2015.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is at it again.  According to Government Health IT, the Task Force has given a "B" recommendation to "coverage of behavioral counseling interventions for overweight and obese individuals with at least one other cardiovascular disease risk factor." This recommendation will require FEHB plans to offer this coverage in-netowrk with no enrollee cost sharing beginning January 1, 2016.  The article discusses certain insurer pilot projects that currently are underway.

Finally, yesterday, the IRS released draft instructions for the forms (1095-B and 1095-C) that health plans (1095-B) and large employers (1095-C) will use to make ACA required reports beginning in January 2016 in accordance with Internal Revenue Code sections 6055 and 6056. The IRS is accepting public comments on those documents for the next sixty days or so.