January 2018 January was a busy month in the employee benefits world. On January 24, 2018, the U.S. Senate confirmed Alex Azar as the new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed regulations regarding association health plans. HHS released the 2018 federal poverty guidelines. […]
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Compliance Recap November 2017
November was a busy month in the employee benefits world. President Trump nominated Alex Azar for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updated its guidance on employer shared responsibility penalty assessments and released guidance on Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSE HRA) implementation and […]
Read moreSeptember 2017 Compliance Recap
Compliance Recap September 2017 September was a quiet month in the employee benefits world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued final Forms 1094/1095, special per diem rates for 2017-18, and guidance on the tax treatment of leave-based donation programs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a Medicare special enrollment period for individuals […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // April 2017
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 […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // February 2017
February had relatively little activity in the employee benefits world because a new Secretary of the Department of Health and Humans (HHS) was recently confirmed and HHS started its rulemaking under the new administration. On February 10, 2017, the U.S. Senate confirmed Rep. Tom Price as the new Secretary of HHS, who has a budget […]
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 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 moreCompliance 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 moreHHS OCR HIPAA Audit Phishing Email Alert
In recent months, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) notified business associates of their inclusion in Phase 2 HIPAA Audits. On November 28, 2016, and November 30, 2016, the OCR issued listserv announcements warning covered entities and their business associates about a phishing email disguised as an OCR […]
Read moreFinal Regulations Regarding Short-Term Limited-Duration Insurance, Excepted Benefits, and Lifetime/Annual Limits
On October 31, 2016, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (collectively the Departments) issued final regulations regarding the definition of short-term, limited-duration insurance, standards for travel insurance and supplemental health insurance coverage to be considered excepted benefits, and an amendment relating to the […]
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