We are now less than 100 days until the 2022 midterm elections in November. With every House seat contested and some key Senate seats contested, this year’s midterms are as important as ever. In June we discussed a host of primary elections that helped shape what November’s elections will look like. This week, there were more primaries across six states. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, NAHU’s Marcy Buckner and Chris Hartmann are here to break down the most competitive primary results and provide an overview of what could happen come November.

There is a new legal challenge to the ACA in Texas. No, you’re not having déjà vu – there is another legal challenge coming out of Texas, specifically challenging the ACA’s preventative care mandate. HHS also released a proposed rule this week that would revise Section 1557 of the ACA – the nondiscrimination portion of the healthcare law. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, NAHU’s Marcy M. Buckner is back to discuss these legal and regulatory developments.

The Build Back Better Act, the reconciliation package that Democrats have been trying to piece together for the better part of a year, may finally have legs – and may end up containing only a few, specific healthcare provisions, both of which are relevant to NAHU. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, NAHU Vice Presidents of Congressional Affairs Chris Hartmann and John Greene are back on the pod to discuss the most recent developments in Build Back Better and its new possibility of passage.

The House will begin its annual August Recess on August 1, with the Senate joining them one week later on August 8. Throughout the month of August, members of Congress are back in their home states and districts. That makes August the perfect time to schedule a meeting with your legislator! On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, NAHU lobbyists John Greene and Chris Hartmann discuss August recess appointments and our Summer 2022 talking points that will assist you in those meetings.

We hope everyone had an excellent Fourth of July weekend, and we hope all those who attended NAHU’s Annual Convention enjoyed themselves! On June 24, the Supreme Court issued a decision in the case of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, effectively overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey’s previously established constitutional right to abortion access. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, Marcy M. Buckner discusses the implications of the Dobbs decision on ERISA, employee benefits, state laws and more.

It’s almost time for NAHU’s Annual Convention! But, before we see your bright smiling faces in Austin, there is some regulatory news to discuss! This week, NAHU submitted comments to CMS in response to a proposed rule released in April that makes policy changes to the Medicare enrollment process, among other important changes. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, NAHU’s John Greene discusses our comment letter to the administration. Additionally, we discuss how you can complete your Medicare Advantage training with NAHU.

Last week, NAHU submitted comments on the Biden administration’s proposed rule to fix the ACA family glitch, where we noted our questions, concerns and suggestions for the Treasury Department to consider before the rule is finalized. Additionally, NAHU’s Annual Convention in Austin, Texas, is right around the corner. For those of you who are attending in-person, there is a legislative track of professional development breakout sessions that you absolutely must hear about. Here to discuss all of this on this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour is NAHU’s Marcy M. Buckner.

Hopefully, you all saw in your inbox on Tuesday that NAHU, and all individual market brokers, had a major regulatory victory this week. A new FAQ from CMS has made a vital clarification regarding broker compensation during special enrollment periods. In addition, discussions around the Build Back Better reconciliation package have resumed, and several important primary elections took place earlier this week. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, NAHU’s Chris Hartmann and John Greene review all these items and what you need to know.

Thomas J. McInerney is president and CEO of Genworth Financial, a leading company in the long-term care and mortgage insurance industries. If you work in the long-term care space, you know Genworth and the role that they have played in the industry. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, Noel Evans and Lori Martin, members of NAHU’s Long-Term Care Advisory Group, sit down with Tom McInerney for an in-depth discussion on what drew Tom to Genworth and long-term care, new Genworth products, a recent cost of care survey, and more.

The 2022 midterm elections are just around the corner, and important primary elections have taken place across the country over the last few weeks. Idaho, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Alaska, Minnesota, Georgia and Alabama held various primary elections for federal and gubernatorial offices. On this week’s episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, NAHU’s Chris Hartmann and John Greene discuss a few of these election results and their potential impacts come November.