New resources on workers’ rights to leave for mental health conditions under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) were released by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Mental health conditions are now considered serious health conditions under FMLA if they require inpatient or …
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2023. The rule details the benefit and payment parameters for the 2023 benefit year under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The 2023 maximum annual limit on cost-sharing is $9,100 for self-only coverage, …
The COVID-19 vaccine toolkit, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has been updated and now includes a list of vaccines and boosters that are required to be covered without cost-sharing. This chronological list contains COVID-19 vaccines and boosters approved and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration …
The 2023 inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs) were announced by the IRS. Each year the law requires the IRS to announce the limits by June 1st. These limits include the maximum HSA contribution limit, the minimum deductible amount for HDHPs, and the …
A proposed rule was released by the IRS on April 5, 2022, to change the existing eligibility standards for the premium tax credit (PTC). The PTC is available to eligible individuals who purchased health insurance through the Exchange. However, the PTC is not available to employees with affordable, minimum value …
President Biden announced the COVID-19 National Emergency will extend beyond March 1, 2022. It is important to note the public health emergency is different from the national emergency. The public health emergency was recently renewed on January 16, 2022 and extends for 90 days. The extension of the National Emergency …
The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor released an initiative with a focus on federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) compliance. The announcement of the initiative stated the division will ensure employers comply with federal labor laws using “vigorous enforcement.” More education and outreach will …
Mask-wearing recommendations have been loosened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, with 70% of the nation residing in low- or medium-risk counties, only individuals in high-risk areas are recommended to wear masks in indoor settings. COVID-19 Community Levels can be used to determine the risk level …
Pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens are no longer limiting customers on the maximum number of rapid over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests that may be purchased at one time. Previously, CVS only allowed six tests to be purchased at once and at Walgreens, only four. Due to an increase in supply, these …
As a result of the Biden administration, at-home COVID-19 tests are now available to most Americans for no upfront cost or for reimbursement. These tests can be purchased online or in-store, without talking to your doctor, and with all or some of the cost covered by private insurance. Limitations and …
Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010, many changes have been made. In 2022, there are changes for employers sponsoring group health plans. Plan Design Changes Grandfathered plan status A grandfathered plan is one that existed before the ACA was enacted on March 23, 2010. The Departments …
Annually, Medicare Part D requires group health plan sponsors to disclose to those eligible for Medicare Part D and to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) whether the health plan’s prescription drug coverage is creditable. The start date of the annual enrollment period for Medicare Part D is …
The COVID-19 pandemic has and continues to force many organizations to adapt and reimagine their service offerings to prioritize the health and safety of their employees. Since in-person visits to the doctor were put on hold in 2020, telehealth saw an increase in popularity. This allowed employees and their families …
Retirement planning is one evolving area where employees are seeking out solutions that assist them and their family members in building strong financial futures. According to the Employee Benefits Research Institute, over four out of five workers say their employer converting retirement savings into regular income would be helpful. Additionally, …
Throughout the pandemic, the opportunity to engage in traditional healthcare dwindled due to the risk of infection and reallocation of resources. Now, with a large percentage of Americans fully vaccinated and demand for care increasing, the popularity of telemedicine continues to boom. New research shows that virtual care will outlast …
