The last five years have meant rapid change for the healthcare industry: the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law in 2010; the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, also known as meaningful use, were launched in 2011; and this fall, Medicare is changing requirements for how claims are coded.

The changing environment has kept providers on their toes as they continue to practice medicine while juggling increased scrutiny and regulations. Retail brokers and agents with medical professionals as clients have a responsibility to understand the nuances of the evolving industry to help properly protect clients from new and changing risks.