Health Beat: Obamacare Procrastinators Get An Extension

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OBAMACARE PROCRASTINATORS GET AN EXTENSION
For those who may have been unaware of the penalties that kick in this tax season or for those who missed enrollment deadlines at the middle of February, you still have an opportunity to sign up for health care coverage. Kaiser Health News reports:

The Obama administration said Friday it will allow a special health law enrollment period from March 15 to April 30 for consumers who realize while filling out their taxes that they owe a fee for not signing up for coverage last year.

The special enrollment period applies to people in the 37 states covered by the federal marketplace, though some state-run exchanges are also expected to follow suit.

People will have to attest that they first became aware of the tax penalty for lack of coverage when they filled out their taxes. They will still have to pay the fine, which for last year was $95 or 1% of their income, whichever was greater. This year, the penalty for not having insurance coverage is $325 per person or 2% of household income, whichever is greater. By signing up during the special enrollment period for 2015 they can avoid paying most of the tax penalty for this year.

Read more here.

SUMMIT MEDICAL CHANGES NAME, $10 MILLION ER EXPANSION PLANNED
Community Health Systems plans to invest $10 million in an emergency room expansion at Summit Medical Center in Van Buren, and is also changing the name of Summit to Sparks Medical Center – Van Buren. The expanded emergency room will have 12 beds and will be located near the front of the existing hospital in Van Buren. A groundbreaking is expected later this year. Read more here.

CONG. WESTERMAN PUSHING WORKFORCE REQUIREMENT FLEXIBILITY FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION
First-term Cong. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, is utilizing his previous legislative experience to push for a loosening of federal regulations on Arkansas and other states. Appearing on Talk Business & Politics, Westerman discussed the first bill he’s authored, the State Flexibility and Workforce Requirement Act of 2015, which allow states to create workforce incentives on non-disabled, working age individual Medicaid recipients without having to get the permission from federal officials.

Read more here and watch his full interview from the show.