On September 18, 2020, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87. The loss of Justice Ginsburg has shaken the country and has led to a flood of questions regarding what comes next for the Court and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Whether the …
On September 13, 2020, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to lower drug costs for Medicare recipients. The action comes nearly two months after the President signed a separate order, which directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take necessary steps to deliver lower …
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) to include increased pay or play penalty amounts for the 2021 calendar year. Since 2014, the applicable per-employee dollar amounts of $2,000 and $3,000 have been increased based on the premium adjustment percentage for the year. For …
The Supreme Court will hear arguments challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) one week after Election Day – on November 10, 2020. This will be the third time the Supreme Court has reviewed the ACA’s constitutionality since the law’s tenth anniversary of enactment in 2010. Background Back …
On July 24, 2020, President Donald Trump signed four executive orders directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take the necessary steps to deliver lower costs on prescription drugs for American patients, including insulin and epinephrine. The executive orders issued by the President include: Lowering Prices for …
On July 13, 2020, the IRS released 2020 draft Forms 1094-C and 1095-C. The drafts will be used by applicable large employers (ALEs) to report under Section 6056, as well as combined sections 6055 and 6056 for ALEs who sponsor self-insured plans. Draft instructions for Forms 1094-C and 1095-C have …
On July 10, 2020, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury Departments issued a proposed rule intended to provide greater flexibility for grandfathered group health plans — which would include changes to certain cost-sharing requirements without losing grandfather status. The proposed rule would amend …
On July 8, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the U.S. Treasury Department issued Notice 2020-54, requiring employers to report the amount of qualified sick and family leave wages paid to employees under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Employers will be required to report these amounts either …
On June 19, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued proposed regulations under a portion of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that eliminated the employer deduction for certain employee transportation benefits. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed Section 274 of the IRS Code to disallow employer deductions …
Due to the urgent need to help facilitate the nation’s response to the current public health emergency posed by COVID-19, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury have provided answers to a second set of frequently asked questions (FAQs Part 43). This FAQ document provides guidance …
Benefit changes surrounding New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Family Leave Insurance (FLI), as well as California Paid Family Leave (PFL), will go into effect July 1, 2020. Outlined below are updates that may impact your employee population. New Jersey Benefit Changes The benefit level is increasing for both …
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, states have passed new employee leave laws and issued new regulations on existing leave laws. These provisions are in addition to the federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion requirements passed on March 18, 2020 as part of the …
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) imposes a fee on health insurance issuers and plan sponsors of self-insured health plans to help fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The PCORI fee was scheduled to expire for plan or policy years ending on or after October 1, 2019. However, a federal …
The proactive response made to help flatten the COVID-19 curve and preserve personal protective equipment (PPE) has impacted the healthcare economy in profound ways, especially to the dental industry. On March 16, 2020, the American Dental Association (ADA) issued guidance stating that dental practices need to postpone elective procedures and …
On May 20, 2020 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Revenue Procedure 2020-32, which provides the inflation adjusted amounts for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) for the 2021 plan year. As cost of living expenses continue to rise, the IRS annually adjust the following amounts …
