Search
Medicare Part D Model Disclosure Notices Updated
The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) requires that employers sponsoring plans with prescription drug coverage (not just employers with...
May 22, 2011
Essential Benefits to be Defined
As the national healthcare reform law continues to evolve, regulators are now focusing on how to define “essential benefits” — the basic...
May 17, 2011
Electronic Disclosure Rules
It has been nearly a decade since the Department of Labor (DOL) issued electronic disclosure regulations establishing a safe harbor for...
May 11, 2011
IRS Asks for Comments on Employer Mandate "Shared Responsibility" Provisions
Starting in 2014, employers with 50 or more full-time (FT) employees that do not offer affordable health coverage to their FT employees...
May 10, 2011
DOL Issues Report to Congress on Self-Insured Group Health Plans
The Department of Labor recently released a report required by the national healthcare reform act that provides detailed statistics on...
May 3, 2011
Employee Free Choice Voucher Requirement Repealed
The employee free choice voucher provision that was part of last year’s healthcare reform law has now been officially repealed. This is...
Apr 18, 2011
President Obama Signs Repeal of PPACA 1099 Provision into Law
On April 14, 2011, President Obama signed the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act, (H.R.4) into law. This repeals the...
Apr 17, 2011
FAQ Part VI on Healthcare Reform Implementation
The agencies have issued additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of the healthcare reform provisions. Like...
Apr 11, 2011
New Guidance on W-2 Health Cost Reporting
Employers are required to provide a written statement to each employee showing the amounts paid to the employee during the calendar year,...
Mar 31, 2011
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - Impact on Benefits
The federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) provides that for all purposes of federal law, such as the Employee Retirement Income Security...
Mar 28, 2011
Extended Grace Period for Claims and Appeals Standards
The government agencies have issued a technical release modifying and extending the previous enforcement grace period for certain new...
Mar 12, 2011
Federal Government Creates New Organization to Help Implement Healthcare Reform
Under the Patient Accountability and Affordability Act, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was entrusted with the...
Mar 3, 2011
House of Representatives Votes to De-Fund Patient Protection and Accountability Act
During consideration of the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 1) – the measure to fund federal government agencies, programs...
Feb 24, 2011
Proposed Changes for NJ Public Workers' Health Care Cost and Design
Over the past several weeks NJ’s Governor and Legislative leaders have issued substantive proposals for re-shaping how public workers...
Feb 17, 2011
Support for Nursing Mothers
The federal government continues to support the needs of working women who breastfeed their infant children. The healthcare reform law...
Feb 15, 2011
Federal Judge Strikes Down Health Reform Law and the Individual Mandate
A Florida federal judge has found the entirety of the health reform law unconstitutional, ruling that Congress exceeded its...
Feb 1, 2011
Update on Health Reform and Form 1099 Repeal Efforts
The Republican controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal the health reform law in what many have called a largely symbolic...
Jan 31, 2011
Imputed Income Issues for Health and Welfare Benefits
One of the more complicated compliance issues for sponsors of health and welfare plans is whether welfare benefits are taxable to...
Jan 26, 2011
House to Vote on Repeal of Health Reform
The House has cleared the way for a vote to repeal the new health reform law with a bill called "Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care...
Jan 18, 2011
Debit Cards for Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines Permitted
The IRS has issued new guidance (IRS Notice 2011-5) to allow participants to continue to use flexible spending account (FSA) and health...
Jan 4, 2011