President Trump Ends ACA Subsidies On the evening of October 12, 2017, President Trump announced that subsidies for low-income Americans in relation to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) would be stopped. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed that payments will be stopped immediately. It is anticipated at least […]
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ACA Market Stabilization Final Rule
On April 18, 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published its final rule regarding Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) market stabilization. The rule amends standards relating to special enrollment periods, guaranteed availability, and the timing of the annual open enrollment period in the […]
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 moreIRS Final Rule on Minimum Value
In December 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a final rule that clarifies various topics relating to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and premium tax credit eligibility provisions. The rule finalizes regulations that were proposed years earlier. Child Income The final rule clarified language relating to the calculation of a taxpayer’s […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // June 2015
June was a busy month, with multiple updates from regulatory agencies as well as two important Supreme Court opinions that impacted the world of employer benefits. As the Supreme Court wrapped up the October 2014 term, it has granted petitions for the October 2015 term, which will ultimately impact ERISA plans. The IRS updated its […]
Read moreU.S. Supreme Court Upholds ACA Subsidy Eligibility on Federal Exchanges
The Supreme Court issued its opinion in King v. Burwell, holding that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may issue regulations to extend tax-credit subsidies to coverage purchased through Exchanges established by the federal government under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The six-to-three opinion was authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, who was […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // March 2015
Coming off a busy February, regulatory agencies were noticeably quiet during the month of March. This allowed the Supreme Court to take the spotlight with oral arguments in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) related case, King v. Burwell. A clarifying FAQ was issued regarding cost-sharing limits for individuals, which was originally announced […]
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