Last week, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) along with the Departments of Labor and the Department of the Treasury issued a final rule on price transparency, helping to ensure every American knows how much their healthcare will cost in advance and allowing them to make fully […]
Read More...The federal public health emergency declaration due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended to January 22, 2021. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) originally declared the public health emergency on January 31, 2020, and the declaration was previously renewed twice this year, in April and July. Public health emergency declarations are generally […]
Read More...By: Keenan & Associates, an AssuredPartners Company On July 24, 2020, President Donald Trump signed four executive orders that focused on lowering prescription drug prices. All of these executive orders direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make determinations and promulgate rules that would put the executive orders into effect. Therefore, these […]
Read More...Please join us for this HRCI* and SHRM** pre-approved, complimentary, one-hour webinar as Patrick Haynes, AssuredPartners’ General Counsel and SVP of Compliance, covers the following compliance topics through 2020 thus far: IRS Notices 2020-29, 2020-33 Changes to Cafeteria Plans, HCFSAs, HSAs, DCAPs, and more COVID-19 Relief and Changes Other DOL, IRS, and HHS Guidance, including […]
Read More...Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published finalized 2021 Benefit Payment Parameters with an $8,550 out-of-pocket maximum for self-only coverage and $17,100 for family coverage for health plans beginning in 2021. See, the 5/14/2020 Federal Register publication here. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), non-grandfathered health plans are required to […]
Read More...Author: Nathanael M. Alexander, Esq., Director of Compliance – AP Benefit Advisors On January 17, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the updated Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines for 2020. The revised FPL guidelines are effective as of January 15, 2020, with the new FPL level set at $12,670 for a person […]
Read More...The DOL, HHS, and IRS have jointly issued an FAQ addressing whether health plans must count drug manufacturers’ coupons toward the annual cost-sharing limits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). (Note: these limits apply to non-grandfathered group health plans, including self-insured and insured small and large group market health plans.) Regulations that announced the 2020 […]
Read More...HHS 2020 Benefit Limits and Updates The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released final regulations with the benefit and payment parameters for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2020, along with a few other insurance market and Exchange-related final regulations. Although largely aimed at insurers and state regulators, the regulations […]
Read More...As we head into the last couple days of February, we want to take this opportunity to remind employers about the following upcoming filing deadlines: Annual Prescription Drug Notice Group health plans must notify the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) each year regarding whether the group health plan’s prescription drug coverage offered to […]
Read More...Healthcare Reform Timeline – Perpetual timeline of all healthcare reform updates from 2010 to 2020 (and 2022-when the Cadillac Tax is scheduled to “begin”). Consumer-Driven Healthcare Options – Medical Savings Account (MSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Savings Account (FSA) and Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) – descriptions, details, pros and cons of each plan type, […]
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