compliance
July 21, 2020
Proposed Rules on Grandfathered Group Health Plan Coverage
In response the President’s Executive Order 13765 “Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal” issued on January 20, 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of the Treasury ...
July 14, 2020
Be Ready for ACA Penalty Letters
Employers should start gearing up for IRS penalty letters issued under the Affordable Care Act. According to an announcement posted on the IRS website, the IRS has “has postponed mailing and responding to Employer Shared Responsibility Payment (ESRP] related correspondence until after ...
July 9, 2020
The CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program
In response to the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act is the third phase in Congress’ response to COVID-19 following the Coronavirus Preparedness and ...
July 8, 2020
Contraception Mandate Rolled Back for Employers
Updated July 2020 The Department of the Treasury (Treasury), Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (collectively, the Departments) released two final rules on November 7, 2018, regarding contraceptive coverage exemptions. These rules finalize the ...
July 7, 2020
Compliance Recap | June 2020
June was a busy month in the employee benefits world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released the updated patient-centered outcomes research institute (PCORI) fee amount and announced transition relief. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) published a ...
July 3, 2020
FAQs on Health Plan Coverage under the FFCRA and the CARES Act Part 2
The Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of the Treasury (collectively, the Departments), issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA), the Coronavirus Aid, ...
June 30, 2020
FAQs on Health Plan Coverage under the FFCRA and the CARES Act
The Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Department of the Treasury (Treasury) (collectively, the Departments) have released frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding group health plan coverage requirements under the Families First Coronavirus Response ...
June 15, 2020
CMS Letter Summarizing COVID-19 Guidance for Non-Federal Governmental Plan Sponsors
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a letter highlighting COVID-19 guidance relevant to non-federal governmental plan sponsors. The letter highlights guidance that has previously been released and does not issue any new requirements. Requirement to Cover COVID-19 ...
June 8, 2020
The Patient-Centered Outcomes (PCORI) / Comparative Effectiveness Fee
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee initially applied from 2012 to 2019. However, in December 2019, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 extended the fee to 2029. The fee is due based on plan/policy years ending on or after October 1, 2012, and before ...
June 5, 2020
Compliance Recap | May 2020
May was a busy month in the employee benefits world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued IRS Notice 2020-29 that provides increased flexibility for making mid-year elections or changes under a Section 125 cafeteria plan during calendar year 2020 and provides increased flexibility to apply ...
