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235 Matching News Items

1.  Health and Welfare Benefits Monthly Update, March 2024 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Mar. 7, 2024
27 presentation slides. Topics: [1] Washington update; [2] Update regarding STLDI and fixed indemnity regulations, and IRS News Release IR 2024-65; [3] Considerations for group health plan service agreements in light of recent legislation, regulation and litigation; [4] Drug importation issues; and [5] HIPAA developments.
2.  Health and Welfare Benefits Monthly Update, February 2024 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Feb. 1, 2024
24 presentation slides. Topics: [1] 2023 Short-term limited duration and fixed indemnity proposed regulations -- impact on abusive wellness program arrangements; [2] Specialty drug and copay assistance program compliance issues; [3] Service provider agreement compliance issues; and [4] Grab bag report and reminders.
3.  Health & Welfare Benefits Monthly Update, December 2023 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Dec. 8, 2023
45 pages. Topics: [1] Year-end Washington update; [2] End of the Public Health and National Emergencies and Outbreak Period; [3] Developments in prescription drug coverage; [4] CAA, 2021 Updates: TiC and IDR; [5] Preventive services developments; [6] HIPAA developments; [7] 2023 Mental Health Parity proposed regulations; and [8] Grab bag report and reminders.
4.  Year-End Health Benefits Roundup 2023 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Dec. 6, 2023
15 pages. "The year 2023 ... peaked over the summer with the release of the long-anticipated proposed rules for non-quantitative treatment limitations under the [MHPAEA]. Regulators also issued ... proposed rules for fixed indemnity excepted benefits coverage and short-term, limited-duration insurance; privacy of reproductive health information; and investment fiduciaries.... [A] new proposed regulation was issued this fall after several court opinions disrupted the federal IDR process. The IRS quietly released a chief counsel memorandum confirming that the substantiation rules for account-based plans really do mean what they say they mean.... Congress introduced several bills this year aimed at regulating PBMs."
5.  Health and Welfare Benefits Monthly Update, November 2023 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Nov. 7, 2023
27 pages. Topics: [1] Washington update; [2] MHPAEA drill down; [3] Account based plan issues; [4] Other health & welfare plan updates.
6.  Do You Need to Send an Annual Notice to Plan Participants?
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Nov. 2, 2023
"[A] table provides a list of the content and deadlines for the most common notices that plan sponsors may need to distribute."
7.  Health & Welfare Benefits Monthly Update, October 2023 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Oct. 5, 2023
34 presentation slides. Topics: [1] Washington update; [2] HSA issue update; [3] Enrollment issues; [4] Health & welfare developments; [5] MHPAEA Technical Release; and [6] Gag clause issues.
8.  Health & Welfare Benefits Monthly Update, September 2023 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Sept. 6, 2023
50 presentation slides. Topics: [1] Washington update; [2] 2023 Short-term limited duration and fixed indemnity proposed regulations; [3] 2023 Mental health parity proposed regulations; [4] Case developments: Mulready and others; [5] Grab bag report and reminders.
9.  Agencies Issue Extensive MHPAEA Guidance: Plan and Issuer Action Required (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Aug. 29, 2023
17 pages. "This advisory contains background regarding MHPAEA; a detailed analysis of the Proposed Rule, the [Technical Release], and the Report to Congress; and Practice Pointers ... Although the statement of purpose for the Proposed Rule may appear broad and generic, it evidences the departments' intent to take a holistic approach to enforcement to make sure that there is actual parity in operation -- requiring a plan to establish that it provides participants and beneficiaries appropriate access to MH/SUD benefits."
10.  Tri-Agencies Issue MHPAEA Proposed Rules with Significant New Compliance Obligations for Group Health Plans and Issuers
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
July 30, 2023
"In addition to the Proposed Rules, the agencies released the second report to Congress on the MHPAEA comparative analysis for nonquantitative treatment limitations. This report for the first time ... names specific plans that were found by the agencies to not be compliant with the comparative analysis requirement.... If finalized as proposed, the new requirements would be generally effective starting the first plan year starting on or after January 1, 2025. However, certain clarifications of existing rules are currently effective."
11.  Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: The End of the COVID Mandates and Outbreak Period Extensions
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Apr. 26, 2023
"Plan sponsors opting for a reversal of the additional previously mandated benefits should review all plan communications related to announcements about coverage for COVID-19 diagnosis, treatment, and preventive services ... If duration was not communicated, or if the notice was issued in an earlier plan year, then the participants need to be notified within a 'reasonable time' in advance of the reversal.... Plan sponsors that are considering extending deadlines beyond what is required by the end of the Outbreak Period should discuss with insurers and stop-loss carriers."
12.  Health and Welfare Benefits Monthly Update, April 2023 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Apr. 6, 2023
20 presentation slides. Topics include: [1] Braidwood Management v. Becerra; [2] The Public Health Emergency is ending -- so now what? [3] The Outbreak Period is ending -- but when? [4] It's time to renegotiate my ASO.
13.  Health and Welfare Plan Developments, February 2023 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Feb. 2, 2023
24 presentation slices. Topics include: [1] Year-end legislative update, HSA extension and COVID mandate status; [2] Preventive services/ACA; [3] Section 1557 regulations: brief review and sample of cases; [4] HIPAA update -- online tracking; [5] MHPAEA; [6] IDR developments; and [7] Miscellaneous items: disaster relief and DOL 2023 penalty increases.
14.  2022 Year in Review for Health and Welfare Plans (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Nov. 30, 2022
34 presentation slides. Topics include: [1] Washington update; [2] Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA): prescription drug reporting, surprise billing, MHPAEA analysis on Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs), miscellaneous CAA items; [3] Transparency in coverage reporting; [4] Dobbs v. Jackson Women"s Health Organization and medical travel benefits; [5] Recap of coronavirus impact on employer H&W benefits; [6] Proposed 1557 regulations; and [7] COLA updates.
15.  Impact of the Dobbs Decision on Cafeteria Plans and Medical Travel
Alston & Bird, via TRI-AD Link to more items from this source
June 30, 2022
"Can an employer reimburse abortion travel expenses in excess of the limits under Code section 213(d)? ... Can abortion travel expenses be reimbursed through an HRA or Health FSA? ... What kind of documentation is required to reimburse abortion travel benefits under an FSA or HRA/EBHRA? ... Can abortion travel expenses be reimbursed through an HSA? ... Can abortion travel benefits be provided through an EAP? ... What if a state attempts to ban abortions obtained outside of the state? What if a state attempts to ban reimbursement for abortions?"
16.  Health & Welfare Benefits Monthly Update, April 2022 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Apr. 7, 2022
18 presentation slides. Topics: [1] Washington update; [2] ACA 1557 and HSA/telehealth issues; [3] MHPAEA litigation update; [4] State PBM legislation; and [5] ERISA plan assets: recent issues and concerns.
17.  Health & Welfare Plan Update (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Nov. 9, 2021
20 presentation slides. Topics: [1] Health Care Related Provisions in the Build Back Better Act; [2] Preparing for 2022: No Surprises Act; and [3] Additional Items to Note.
18.  Monthly Update: Health and Welfare Plan Lunch Group (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
June 3, 2021
30 pages. Topics: [1] Washington update; [2] ARPA FAQs and guidance; [3] New EEOC vaccine guidance; and [4] IRS Notice 2021-26 dependent care guidance.
19.  Health & Welfare Benefits Update, May 2021 (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
May 9, 2021
23 presentation slides. Topics: [1] Legislative update; [2] ARP Subsidy Update; [3] Health Plan Litigation Developments; and [4] ERISA Issues Related to Settlements, Refunds, and Recoveries.
20.  Health and Welfare Benefits Monthly Update (PDF)
Alston & Bird Link to more items from this source
Apr. 1, 2021
19 presentation slides. Topics: [1] IRS guidance delaying 1040 filing date (impact on HSAs) and addressing PPEs; [2] Legislative and regulatory update; [3] ARPA DCAP increase to $10,500; [4] Outbreak notice reminders and implementation issues; [5] ARPA: a deeper dive on COBRA subsidies; [6] HIPAA update.
   Next »

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