"[The HHS proposed rule includes changes] which may impact group health plans and their business associates  ... [1] Revises [Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)] content requirements.... [2] Adds exception to minimum necessary requirement for health plan coordination and case management disclosures.... [3] Expressly permits disclosures to facilitate care with social and community services.... [4] [A]llows individuals greater access to their PHI ... [5] Clarifies fees and adds fee disclosure requirements."  MORE >>

"[All] employers (or their insurers in fully insured group health plans) must file the annual IRS Form 720 by July 31st of each year, regardless of their plan year.... Generally, health care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are not required to file a Form 720 unless the employer (and not just the employee) makes contributions to it that exceed the lesser of $500 annually or a dollar-for-dollar match of the employee's contribution.... For Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), you must first look at the integrated group health plan."  MORE >>

"The next item plan sponsors must address will be making public disclosures regarding in-network and out-of-network rates beginning July 1, 2022. To meet that deadline, plan sponsors should be working with carriers and third-party administrators (TPA) to ensure they have the necessary information in the proper format to comply with the new rules."  MORE >>

21 pages. "This report covers: [1] Top healthcare threat actors and methods; [2] Observations from cyberattacks in Healthcare in 2021 vs 2020; [3] Insights on ransomware incidence in Healthcare; [4] Actions and practices you can take to be more secure.... Over the past three years, 93 percent of healthcare organizations have experienced a data breach, and 57% have suffered more than five breaches during the same period."  MORE >>

"This update provides an overview and recent legal challenges to a portion of the law.... [T]he most effective way to address NSA legislation, particularly elements of the IDR process, is to adopt a pure [reference based pricing (RBP)] plan -- a strategy designed to moderate costs by establishing a benchmark fee schedule and payment ceiling in lieu of a traditional provider network. Pure RBP plans that do not contract with providers should remain unaffected by NSA because there aren't any out-of-network claims; nor any determination of a median in-network rate."  MORE >>

"What if health tech companies could use the human body to power devices? ... Health care needs to take a cue from 'Moneyball' and invest in data analytics ... How can we overcome medical mistrust? ... The U.S. needs to learn from the U.K.'s anonymized health data programs "  MORE >>