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Employee Benefits Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Ballard Spahr LLP

Courts Invalidate ACA Regulations Following Demise of Chevron Deference

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Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn its landmark 1984 Chevron decision, three district courts have struck down provisions in nondiscrimination regulations under the Affordable Care Act that prohibit...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Final Section 1557 Rules: Highlights for Health Plan Sponsors

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued final regulations on the nondiscrimination rules set forth in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. The new rules apply to certain group health plans, as...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Does Section 1557 Apply to Employer Group Health Plans? (And — Why That Question May Not Even Matter)

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

Seyfarth Synopsis: Following years of back and forth, new final rules were published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on May 6, 2024 reinstituting the Department’s interpretation that the prohibition on...more

Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

Gender-Affirming Care Remains a Hot Topic in 2024

Bass, Berry & Sims PLC on

Our April 9 blog post highlighted several issues to watch during 2024, one of which was gender-affirming care considerations. Just over a month later, there have now been three key developments with respect to that issue:...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

HHS Issues New Affordable Care Act Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Regulations

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Seyfarth Synopsis: New regulations effective August 6, 2024 restore and expand scope of civil rights protections under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act....more

Akerman LLP - HR Defense

On the Basis of Sex… Discrimination in Group Health Plans and What Employers Should Know

In just a few days’ time, recently promulgated federal final rules addressing sex-based nondiscrimination in the administration of health care benefits have created a flurry of healthcare industry activity. The angst arises...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

HHS Announces Temporary Copay Accumulator Non-Enforcement Policy

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The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has filed court pleadings stating that it does not intend to initiate enforcement actions against plans that maintain copay accumulator programs....more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

IRS Releases 2024 Limits for Health and Welfare and Related Plans

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

Seyfarth Synopsis: The IRS has announced an increase to the applicable dollar amount for determining the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (“PCORI”) Fee for 2024 as well as other health and welfare limits....more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Prescription for Chaos: Copay Accumulator Programs Called Into Question

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Summary - Employers taking advantage of copay accumulator programs now face unexpected administrative complications following a recent federal court decision....more

Snell & Wilmer

2023 End-of-Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” Lists (Part 1) Health and Welfare

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We are pleased to present our annual End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” Lists. This year, we present our “To Do” Lists in four separate Employee Benefits Updates. This Part 1 covers year-end health and welfare plan issues....more

McDermott Will & Emery

The ‘No More Restrictive’ Requirement for NQTLs Under the Proposed MHPAEA Regulations

McDermott Will & Emery on

We previously reported on proposed regulations under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). If adopted in final form, these regulations would vastly complicate compliance by group health plans and health...more

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC

‎2024 Healthcare Affordability Percentage Makes Benefits More Expensive for Employers‎

The employee benefits 2024 open enrollment season is quickly approaching and, with newly released IRS guidance, employers should be careful to ensure the health plan they offer employees is considered affordable. According to...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

High Deductible Health Plan First Dollar Coverages in Flux

Foley & Lardner LLP on

A recent string of lawsuits, regulatory guidance, and market trends have dramatically impacted the types of services that enjoy first dollar coverage under high deductible health plan (HDHP) and health savings account (HSA)...more

King & Spalding

Joint Proposed Rule Aims to Increase Consumer Protections Under the Affordable Care Act

King & Spalding on

HHS, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (collectively, the Departments) issued a proposed rule on July 7, 2023, aimed at shoring up consumer protections...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

FAQs Provide Guidance on Preventive Care

Ballard Spahr LLP on

Summary - The Departments of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services have jointly issued FAQs that address the requirement to cover the full cost of certain preventive care services in view of the recent ruling...more

Holland & Hart - The Benefits Dial

It’s a Roller Coaster … Employer Considerations After Court Invalidates ACA Preventive Care Mandate

Since the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) became law in 2010, numerous groups have attempted to invalidate the ACA or specific parts of the ACA through litigation. Even after a number of plaintiffs unsuccessfully attempted to...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Court Invalidates Certain Preventive Care Requirements

Ballard Spahr LLP on

Summary - Health plans and insurance policies may no longer be required to cover the full cost of preventive care that carries an A or B rating by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), following a recent ruling...more

Laner Muchin, Ltd.

When Will the Pandemic End for Employer-Sponsored Health Plans?

Laner Muchin, Ltd. on

While many in the U.S. have attempted to resume a sense of normalcy despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, for employer-sponsored health plans, special “emergency” pandemic rules and extensions remain in effect. As previously...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

HHS, DOL, and Treasury Give Employer-Sponsored Health Plans Another Warning on Providing Contraceptive Coverage

​​​​​​​Employers can’t say they weren’t warned. For the second time in six months, frequently asked question (FAQ) guidance from federal regulators is calling attention to the requirement that employer-sponsored health...more

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC

Employer Provided Travel Benefits in Response to Dobbs and State Prohibitions on Abortion

The implications of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade’s constitutional right to abortion have had sweeping implications that affect...more

Fisher Phillips

The Cost of Employee Benefits Non-Compliance Just Went Up . . . Again

Fisher Phillips on

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) just announced increased penalty amounts for entities who violate the privacy, security, and breach notification rules under the Health Insurance Portability and...more

Verrill

You Are Here: A Mall Directory for Healthcare Transparency Requirements

Verrill on

The old adage “you can’t get where you’re going unless you know where you are” has never seemed more true than when applied to the current mélange of healthcare transparency guidance. Fortunately, a fading relic from...more

Snell & Wilmer

In Case You Missed It – Summer 2021

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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

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Health Plan Surcharge for Unvaccinated Employees: New Guidance Provides a Roadmap

Employers that are considering imposing health plan premium surcharges to encourage their employees to get vaccinated have clearer guidance on how to do so without running afoul of the nondiscrimination rules under the Health...more

Morgan Lewis - ML Benefits

Departments Release FAQs on HIV PrEP Coverage

On July 19, the US Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (the Departments) issued Part 47 of their frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation. There are three new...more

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