2023 Capitol conference - Washington DC

Every year in February or March, we head to Washington D.C. for the annual Capitol Conference for our Association (National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professional, NABIP; formerly National Association of Health Underwriters, NAHU).

The last couple of years were not the same (due to COVID), but it was great to be back in person this year.

There are key issues (or Talking Points) that our group focuses on each year. We schedule meetings with our Congressman/Congresswoman to discuss these key issues and ask for support to improve the healthcare system.

This year, we met with our new Congressman (Tom Kean, Jr) and we focused on the issues mentioned below:

• NABIP strongly opposes capping or modifying the individual tax exclusion of employment-based coverage – if this exclusion cap were to be implemented, it would eventually end the employer sponsored health insurance marketplace which covers about 180 Million people.
• NABIP supports site-neutral rules to deter located based gaming of coverage/fees.  e.g. Hospital system acquire doctor’s offices/facilities and then double the costs, because of new “facility fees” even though it is the same facility/service it was prior to the acquisition.
• Medicare: NABIP Supports COBRA to be treated as creditable coverage.  - We had bills drafted in prior years to fix this issue with bi-partisan support but never got through the process.  Rep Schrader was a key sponsor in prior years.
• Medicare: NABIP Supports a new Part D open-enrollment period.  Medicare Beneficiaries in Part D Plans should have the flexibility to make a one-time change during Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – Mar 31) just like Medicare Advantage Plans. 
• Medicare: NABIP supports excluding licensed agents and brokers from burdensome marketing restrictions - Senator Rounds drafted a bill last year to remove independent agents from CMS definition of TPMO.

As a member of the Medicare Advisory Group of NABIP, the Medicare issues are always close to my heart so I took the lead in discussing these items with Congressman Kean.  He seemed supportive and we look forward to continued discussions to continue to improve the healthcare system for Medicare Beneficiaries and all Americans.

CMS COO - Jonathan blum

Justin Lubenow introducing Jonathan Blum, CMS Principal Deputy Administrator & Chief Operating Officer

Justin Lubenow introducing Jonathan Blum, CMS Principal Deputy Administrator & Chief Operating Officer

At this year's conference, I also had the honor of introducing one of our key speakers, Jonathan Blum (CMS Principal Deputy Administrator & Chief Operating Officer).

Mr. Blum spoke about some of the changes CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) has been making to reduce Medicare complaints and improve the overall experience.  There were loud cheers in the audience when Mr. Blum mentioned the additional work his team is doing to limit the misleading and confusing TV Commercials related to Medicare Plans.  He also mentioned the results have already started to show with a large reduction in Medicare complaints from 2021 to 2022.

celebritybootblack.com-Dino wright

If you are ever in Washington D.C. and you need your shoes shined, Dino Wright is the man to see!  Every year, we see Dino at the Hyatt in Capitol Hill and he does an amazing job getting our shoes ready to go.

Dino is also an incredibly nice guy and great conversationalist; always enjoy our chats and hearing the updates regarding his children's achievements!

​https://www.celebritybootblack.com/the-visionary-dino-wright/
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