Insurance News
Regulatory updates in plain English
Stay current with the latest from CMS, state departments of insurance, NAIC, the Federal Register, and Congress — rewritten so you can actually understand what it means for your practice.
Commissioner Lara takes action to maintain stable workers’ compensation market amid rising costs
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has announced a new average advisory rate for workers' compensation insurance, increasing it to $1.65 per $100 of payroll, which is a 6.6% rise from last year. This change is intended to help maintain a stable insurance market in California as costs for medical tr...
CMS Acts to Strengthen Care Quality, Cut Drug Costs, and Slash Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Medicare Beneficiaries
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced changes to how Medicare pays for outpatient care, which will start in 2027. These changes aim to lower drug costs and out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare beneficiaries. CMS plans to adjust payment rates for drugs purchased under the 34...
CMS Proposes Regulations to Lower Health Care Costs, Expand Consumer Choice, and Protect Taxpayers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed new rules aimed at lowering health care costs and improving choices for consumers. These changes will affect health insurance agents and brokers by increasing accountability and reducing fraud in the industry. The goal is to make health...
CMS to Lower Drug Costs and Improve Care by Extending Deadline for GENEROUS Model Application
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the application deadline for drug manufacturers to join the GENEROUS Model, which aims to reduce drug costs and improve care in Medicaid. The new deadline is now April 30, 2026, instead of March 31, 2026. This change allows more drug co...
CMS to Lower Drug Costs and Improve Care by Extending Deadline for GENEROUS Model Application
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the application deadline for drug manufacturers to join the GENEROUS Model, which aims to reduce drug costs in Medicaid and improve healthcare access. The new deadline is now April 30, 2026, giving manufacturers more time to apply. This...
Lower Costs, Better Transit: Governor Hochul Announces that Auto Insurance Reform Would Save MTA Nearly $50 Million Annually
Governor Hochul has announced a new auto insurance reform that is expected to save the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) about $50 million each year. This change will help reduce costs for the MTA, which can improve public transit services. Insurance agents should stay informed about these...
CMS Proposes Regulations to Lower Health Care Costs, Expand Consumer Choice, and Protect Taxpayers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed new rules aimed at lowering health care costs and improving choices for consumers. These changes will affect health insurance agents and brokers by tightening regulations to prevent fraud and ensure that taxpayer-funded subsidies are us...
Money in Your Pockets: Governor Hochul Highlights Proposals to Bring Down Costs of Auto Insurance Rates and Tackle Fraudulent Claims
Governor Hochul has announced new proposals aimed at reducing auto insurance rates and addressing fraudulent claims. These changes will impact drivers and insurance companies in New York. Agents should stay informed about these proposals as they may affect pricing and claims processes in the near fu...
Medicare Beneficiaries to See Simpler and More Flexible Plan Choices, Better Drug Coverage, Higher Quality and Lower Costs in 2027
Starting in 2027, Medicare beneficiaries will have simpler and more flexible options for their health plans. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making it easier to understand and compare Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans. These changes aim to improve the quality of ca...
CMS to Improve Patient Care Experience and Lower Costs for Hip, Knee, and Ankle Replacements
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing changes that will improve care and reduce costs for Medicare patients undergoing hip, knee, and ankle replacement surgeries. This plan will expand the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model nationwide, starting October 1, ...
CMS Final Rule Lowers Costs, Cracks Down on Fraud, and Expands State Control
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced new rules for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that will take effect in 2027. These changes will lower fees for using federal health insurance exchanges, tighten checks on who qualifies for financial help, and give states more control ov...
Revising the Definition of “Manufactured Home” to Lower Housing Costs
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is changing the definition of 'manufactured home.' This change will allow parts of manufactured homes that are designed for upper floors to be built without needing a permanent base. This aims to help lower housing costs. Insurance agents should ...
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Long-Term Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Establish Fees for Industry Members Related to Certain Historical Costs of the National Market System Plan Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail
The Long-Term Stock Exchange has announced a new rule that sets fees for industry members related to past insurance costs for the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT). This affects companies involved in the CAT, which is a system for tracking trades in the market. The total insurance cost was about $880,4...
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq MRX, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Establish Fees Related to Certain Historical Costs of the National Market System Plan Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail
Nasdaq MRX, LLC has announced a new rule that establishes fees related to the historical costs of insurance for the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT). This change affects those involved in the National Market System, particularly in how they manage and report insurance costs. Insurance costs for CAT re...
Self-Regulatory Organizations; 24X National Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Establish Fees for Industry Members Related to Certain Historical Costs of the National Market System Plan Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail
The National Exchange LLC has announced a new rule that establishes fees for industry members to cover certain historical costs related to the National Market System Plan. This includes $880,419 spent on insurance for the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) during a specific period. Starting in 2020, CAT...
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Long-Term Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Establish Fees for Industry Members Related To Reasonably Budgeted CAT Costs of the National Market System Plan Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail for May 1, 2026 Through December 31, 2026
The Long-Term Stock Exchange has announced new fees for industry members related to the costs of the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) for the period from May 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. These fees will cover necessary insurance costs, including cyber security liability, directors' and officers' lia...
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq ISE, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Establish Fees for Industry Members Related to Reasonably Budgeted CAT Costs of the National Market System Plan Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail for May 1, 2026 Through December 31, 2026
The Nasdaq ISE has announced new fees for industry members related to the costs of maintaining the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) from May 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. These fees will cover necessary insurance costs, including cyber security, directors and officers liability, and errors and omissi...
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend FINRA Rule 6897 (Consolidated Audit Trail Funding Fees) To Establish Fees for Industry Members Related to Historical Costs of the National Market System Plan Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has made a change to its rules regarding fees for industry members related to the funding of the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT). This change affects insurance companies and other financial industry members who are involved in the CAT system. Starti...