Latest Posts › Employer Group Health Plans

Share:

The 2024 HIPAA Privacy Reproductive Health Care Regulations – Five Takeaways for Group Health Plans

On April 26, 2024, the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (“HHS”) published a final rule to amend the HIPAA Privacy Rules to support reproductive health care privacy (the...more

Five Facts About the Annual Gag Clause Prohibition Compliance Attestation

Effective December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (“CAA”), as part of its transparency in health care protections, prohibits group health plans and issuers from entering into agreements that directly or...more

Group Health Plans Must Provide Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests Effective January 15, 2022 – Six *Updated* Takeaways

On January 10, 2022, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (collectively the “Departments”) issued Affordable Care Act FAQs Part 51 which addresses, in relevant part, payment for over-the-counter...more

In Case You Missed It – Summer 2021

Summer has come and gone, but there was no summer vacation for employee benefits legislation and guidance. In case you have been too busy to check out our blogs lately, here are some key items to help you stay organized and...more

Not All Surprises Are Good – Phase I of the Surprise Billing Rules

On July 1, 2021, the Office of Personnel Management, Department of the Treasury, Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), and Department of Labor (collectively the “Departments”) issued the interim final rule...more

2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act Compliance Checklist for Plan Sponsors

On December 27, 2020, former President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “CAA”) into law. The CAA includes numerous provisions that impact employer-sponsored group health plans, including the...more

Wellness Program Incentives – New Year, New EEOC Proposed Rules

For years we have been trying to understand how the EEOC regulates wellness programs. Although we still do not have a complete picture, we are getting closer with the EEOC’s new Notices of Proposed Rulemaking on wellness...more

COVID-19 and Cafeteria Plans – To Amend or Not to Amend?

On May 12, the IRS issued Notice 2020-29 “COVID-19 Guidance Under Section 125 Cafeteria Plans and Related to High Deductible Health Plans” and Notice 2020-33 “Section 125 Cafeteria Plans – Modification of Permissive Carryover...more

Asked and Answered: Agencies Issue FAQs on COVID-19 Requirements for Group Health Plans

On April 11, 2020, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (the “Departments”) issued "FAQs About Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act...more

Must Drug Manufacturer Coupons Count Toward Annual Maximum Out-Of-Pocket Limits? Stay Tuned …

What is the Annual Maximum Out-Of-Pocket Limit (“MOOP”)? MOOP is the most a participant must pay for covered services under a group health plan in a plan year. After a participant spends this amount on deductibles,...more

Wilderness Therapy – Should We Give It Another Look?

1. What is it? Wilderness therapy generally is traditional therapy in an outdoor setting that seeks to treat young adults with behavioral or substance use disorders. Some programs are licensed and accredited and the...more

New Plan Year, New Wellness Program – Some Things to Keep in Mind

As a follow-up to our recent blog Count Down to Open Enrollment – Some Quick Thoughts, below is a little more detail on how seemingly simple wellness program design changes can have significant legal consequences....more

The Family Medical Leave Act and Benefit Plans: What comes first – the Law or the Employer’s Established Policy?

An employer that employs 50 or more employees for each working day during each of 20 or more calendar workweeks in the current or preceding calendar year is subject to the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”). Therefore, often...more

Wellness Rules Under the ADA – Will There Ever Be Certainty?

We previously blogged about the EEOC’s final rules, published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2016, that explain how the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) applies to employer sponsored wellness programs. These rules...more

Air Ambulance Services – What Does Your Plan Cover?

Due to the increased litigation of air ambulance claims, employers may want to review their plan language to see whether their group health plan covers air ambulance services, and if so, to better understand the terms of the...more

2017 End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” List (Part 1) Health & Welfare

As 2017 comes to an end, we are pleased to present our traditional End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” Lists. This year, we are presenting our “To Do” Lists in four separate Employee Benefits Updates. This Part 1 will cover...more

Recent Mental Health Parity Guidance — A Good Reminder to Review Your Health Plan for Compliance

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (“MHPAEA”) generally requires that the financial requirements and treatment limitations that apply to mental health and substance use disorder (“MH/SUD”) benefits...more

Will the ACA Stay or Will it Go?

After surviving two Supreme Court cases and numerous repeal efforts, the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) is in jeopardy again. Despite the law’s uncertainty, employers may want to continue their compliance efforts because: (1)...more

You Received a Health Insurance Marketplace Notice from HHS – Now What?

Take a deep breath. The HHS Health Insurance Marketplace Notice (the “Notice”) may seem to be a nuisance, but it does not necessarily mean that you will be subject to employer shared responsibility penalties....more

EEOC Final Rules on Wellness Programs and the ADA – Worth the Wait?

On May 16, 2016, the EEOC issued final rules that explain how the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) applies to employer sponsored wellness programs. Although some may welcome the guidance, others may be frustrated...more

24 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 1

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide