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One-Year Waiver on Contraceptive Rules for Religious Organizations
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on January 20 that church- related institutions will be required to provide...
Jan 25, 2012
Revised Guidance on Reporting Healthcare Coverage on Form W-2
The healthcare reform law established new reporting requirements for employer-provided healthcare coverage on Form W-2. This new...
Jan 6, 2012
Final Medical Loss Ratio Rules Released
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued final regulations and a fact sheet on the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR)...
Dec 16, 2011
Retiree Healthcare Fund to be Closed
Federal officials have issued a preliminary notice announcing that the agency will deny any reimbursement requests under the Early...
Dec 12, 2011
Distribution of MLR Rebates
New final Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) rules direct group health plan issuers to provide rebates owed under a plan, if any, to the group...
Dec 11, 2011
Revised New Jersey Local Finance Notice 2011-20R and FSA Administrative Expenses
On November 23, 2011, the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services issued a revised Local Finance Notice 2011-20R and Notice...
Dec 2, 2011
Health Plan Mandate Opt-Out Elections for Self-Funded, Non-Federal Governmental Plans
A non-federal governmental employer that provides self-funded group health plan coverage to its employees (coverage that is not provided...
Nov 30, 2011
Consideration for Internal Appeals and External Review of Plan Denials
Healthcare reform places new requirements on internal appeals and external review of plan denials for non-grandfathered plans. There are...
Nov 29, 2011
New FAQs on Mental Health Parity
The agencies have issued a new set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) addressing mental health parity implementation. Under the mental...
Nov 23, 2011
Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) Rules Delayed
Healthcare reform mandates that group health plans provide the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and Uniform Glossary pursuant to...
Nov 18, 2011
IRS Audits Focus on Fringe Benefits
IRS Audits Focus on Fringe Benefits The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has informally indicated that it will audit 6,000 randomly...
Nov 17, 2011
GINA Concerns for Employers Providing Spouse Incentives to Complete Health Assessments
Recently, at least one regional office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), has raised the concern that offering...
Nov 15, 2011
CLASS Long-Term Care Program Suspended
The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act program is a voluntary long-term care program created by the healthcare...
Oct 17, 2011
Medicare Secondary Payer Guidance on Health Reimbursement Arrangements
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated its Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) reporting requirements guidance with...
Oct 12, 2011
Supreme Court Ruling on Constitutionality of Healthcare Law Likely
More than 20 groups have filed federal lawsuits challenging the healthcare law since President Obama signed it into law in March 2010....
Oct 3, 2011
IRS Proposes "Affordability" Safe Harbor Under Shared Responsibility Provisions
Starting in 2014, applicable large employers may be required to pay a “shared responsibility” penalty (sometimes referred to as the “play...
Sep 21, 2011
Guidance on Annual Limit Waivers for HRAs
Recently released guidance provides for a blanket exemption from healthcare reform's restrictions on annual dollar limits until 2014 for...
Sep 1, 2011
Summary of Benefits Guidance Issued
Healthcare reform requires that health insurers and group health plans (including grandfathered plans) provide consumers with clear,...
Aug 21, 2011
Rules Issued on Exchanges, Premium Credits, and Medicare/CHIP Issues
The agencies have issued three new sets of rules for health insurance Exchanges addressing premium credits for coverage, access to...
Aug 17, 2011
Wellness Incentives - Tax and Compliance Considerations
In an age of increased health risk awareness and ever-increasing health care costs, programs that promote wellness have become an...
Aug 8, 2011