The Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule amending the HIPAA privacy rules (“2024 Privacy Rule”). The 2024 Privacy Rule limits the use or disclosure of an individual’s PHI in connection with reproductive...more
The Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (“EPCRS”), as set forth in Revenue Procedure 2021-30, allows plan sponsors to correct “Qualification Failures,” which are defined as any plan document, operational, demographic...more
2/22/2024
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Benefit Plan Sponsors ,
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Self-Correction Programs
by Leslie Thomson Secure Act 2.0 requires certain plans to automatically enroll participants once they become eligible to participate. Plans that were established prior to December 29, 2022 are exempt from this new...more
If a 401(k) or 403(b) plan permits employees to take in-service hardship withdrawals in the event of an immediate and heavy financial need, new legislation provides that, effective for plan years beginning in 2023, employers...more
Sponsors of self-funded group health plans are required to notify enrollees about the availability of the plan’s notice of privacy practices and how enrollees can obtain a copy of such notice. This must be done at least once...more
If your qualified pension plan does not provide for in-service distributions and has commenced benefit distributions to a retiree who experienced a bona fide retirement, the IRS says your plan may be able to rehire that...more
Earlier this fall, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance to help the public understand when a business or employer can request information on an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status without violating the HIPAA...more
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (“CAA”) established, among other things, new protections from surprise billing and excessive cost-sharing for consumers receiving health care items and services (“No Surprises...more
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has developed a list of best practices plan fiduciaries can implement to reduce missing participant issues and ensure participants and beneficiaries receive their plan...more
Last October, Brenda Berg posted a blog titled “I’m Just Waiting on an… End to the Extended ERISA Deadline Periods.” In that blog, Brenda explained that the IRS and DOL extended certain deadlines applicable to retirement...more
Are you providing the benefits your employees desire? Many employers are making changes to their benefit programs as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The pandemic has decreased access to routine health care services,...more
The Internal Revenue Code requires plan administrators of qualified retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans and ESOPs), 403(b) plans, and eligible 457(b) plans maintained by a governmental employer to...more