In April, government agencies ramped up their activities by issuing a final rule, updating guidance, and announcing increased Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) enforcement. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updated its webpage that summarizes employer shared responsibilities payments and their calculation. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for […]
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Compliance Recap // March 2017
In March, the employee benefits world watched as the House Speaker unveiled a proposal to replace parts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) with the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The AHCA bill was withdrawn from consideration by the full House on March 24 because it appeared that there would not be […]
Read moreSBC Template and Required Addendums for Covered Entities under ACA Section 1557
Updated March 2017 A Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) is four page (double-sided) communication required by the federal government. It must contain specific information, in a specific order, and with a minimum size type, about a group health benefit’s coverage and limitations. If an employer providing an SBC is a covered entity under the […]
Read moreACA – Employer Mandate Reporting Reminder
The following applies to employer groups that are considered Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) for the 2015 calendar year and subject to ACA Employer Mandate reporting for 2016. MARCH 2, 2017: ACA Forms 1095-C to Employees Applicable Large Employers must submit Forms 1095-C to employees no later than March 2, 2017. FEBRUARY 28, 2017 or MARCH […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // January 2017
January was a significant month in the employee benefits world because the new U.S. administration issued an Executive Order announcing its intent to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, January was a relatively inactive month for new laws and administrative rulemaking because the new administration placed a freeze on rulemaking until […]
Read moreCMS’ Proposed Rule on ACA Market Stabilization
On February 17, 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to stabilize the health insurance market and address risks to the individual and small group markets. CMS proposes changes to guaranteed availability of coverage, network adequacy, essential community providers, open enrollment periods, special […]
Read moreIRS Memo on Fixed Indemnity Health Plan Benefits Tax Treatment
On January 20, 2017, the IRS released a Memorandum on the tax treatment of benefits paid by fixed indemnity health plans that addresses two questions: Are payments to an employee under an employer-provided fixed indemnity health plan excludible from the employee’s income under Internal Revenue Code §105? Are payments to an employee under an employer-provided […]
Read moreExecutive Order from President Trump on the ACA
On Friday, January 20, 2017, President Trump signed his first Executive Order, titled “Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal.” The Executive Order instructs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the heads of all other executive departments and agencies with authority, or […]
Read more21st Century Cures Act
On December 13, 2016, President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act into law. The Cures Act has numerous components, but employers should be aware of the impact the Act will have on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, as well as provisions that will impact how small employers can use health reimbursement […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // November 2016
November was a busy month for administrative rulemaking in the employee benefits world. The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) released advance informational copies of 2016 Form 5500 Annual Return/Report. The government released annual benefit plan amounts for 2017. The IRS […]
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