Compliance Recap December 2017 December was a relatively busy month in the employee benefits world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) delayed the reporting deadlines in 2018 for the 1095-B and 1095-C forms to individuals. President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance on accommodation […]
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Compliance Recap – December 2016
December was a relatively busy month for new laws and administrative rulemaking in the employee benefits world. President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act into law. The IRS issued a reporting deadline reminder, two information reporting summaries, and Q&As on information reporting. A U.S. District Court issued a nationwide preliminary injunction regarding a portion […]
Read moreEEOC Issues New Guidance on National Origin Discrimination
On November 21, 2016, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued new guidance on national origin discrimination. National origin discrimination is discrimination because an individual is, or the individual’s ancestors are, from a certain place or has the physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics of a particular national origin group, including Native American tribes. A member […]
Read moreFlow Chart of Key Wellness Program Regulations
A wellness program is any formal or informal program that educates employees about health-related issues, promotes following healthy lifestyles, or encourages employees to make healthier choices. Wellness programs vary greatly and are not always called wellness programs. Some are purely educational and have no financial incentives. Others have financial incentives that may take the form […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // May 2016
After a quiet few months, federal agencies were quite busy during the month of May, issuing four important final rules that impact employers. Specifically, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued the long-awaited revisions to the white collar exemptions of the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its final […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // November 2015
As 2015 winds down, federal agencies are working to provide updates and proposed or final regulations. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) auto-enrollment requirement was repealed, implications of the PACE Act were clarified, a proposed rule relating to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and wellness programs was released, and a final rule […]
Read moreBenefits and Employment Briefing // Fall 2015
The Surprising Compliance Issues of High Deductible Health Plan/Health Savings Account Arrangements As the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) comes into complete fruition, many employers are offering to employees High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) and facilitating the establishment and funding of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Read more ACA Cadillac Tax: IRS Issues […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // April 2015
Regulatory agencies were quiet during the month of April. The most significant guidance came from a variety of federal agencies that issued various documents regarding wellness programs. In addition to a Proposed Rule (discussed below) issued by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) to align wellness program requirements with Title I of the Americans with […]
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