--Implementation of the medical device excise tax--a 2.3 percent excise tax on the sale of any taxable medical device. Certain items are exempt from the tax: eye glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and any device generally purchased by the public at retail;

--Higher-wage workers will have an increased hospital tax rate at 0.9 percent on wages over $200,000 for an individual, or $250,000 for joint married filers. The tax also includes a 3.8 percent assessment on net investment income;


--The amount of contributions to a health flexible savings account will be limited to $2,500 per year, with cost of living adjustments annually; and

--Elimination of the employer deduction of Medicare Part D subsidies to maintain prescription drug plans for eligible retirees.

In Other News

In other health reform news, HHS has announced $46 million in grants to help states improve their processes for reviewing health insurance premium increases. According to Healthcare.gov, 45 states and the District of Columbia applied for the grants. Each grantee will receive $1 million in funds. The improvements that states are planning include:

--Using additional legislative authority in creating stronger programs to review or require advance approval of proposed health insurance premium increases;

--Expanding the scope of current health insurance review, such as pre-approving rate increases for additional health insurance products in the state;

--Requiring insurers to report more information in a standardized process to assist in the evaluation of proposed premium increases, and improving transparency;

--Ensuring more information on health insurance premium review will be made available to the consumer in an accessible manner; and

--Developing and improving existing technology for data sharing and giving information to consumers.

The full list of state plans for overhauling their review processes can be found here.

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