BenefitsLink.com logo
EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com logo

Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter

November 8, 2022

4 New Job Opportunities 4 New Job Opportunities

 

[Official Guidance]

Text of HHS Proposed Regs: Modifications of HIPAA National Council for Prescription Drug Programs Retail Pharmacy Standards; and Adoption of Pharmacy Subrogation Standard

83 pages. "This proposed rule would adopt updated versions of the retail pharmacy standards for electronic transactions adopted under [HIPAA] ... for the following retail pharmacy transactions: [1] health care claims or equivalent encounter information; [2] eligibility for a health plan; [3] referral certification and authorization; and [4] coordination of benefits. The proposed rule would also broaden the applicability of the Medicaid pharmacy subrogation transaction to all health plans."  MORE >>

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS]

[Guidance Overview]

Upcoming Deadline icon Deadline Fast Approaching for Amending Cafeteria Plans

"[T]he Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) permitted plan sponsors to immediately implement certain mid-year changes to their cafeteria plans during the 2020 and/or 2021 plan years without first having to adopt plan amendments. Employers that implemented such relief are required to adopt certain retroactive plan amendments by December 31, 2022."  MORE >>

Segal

[Guidance Overview]

The ACA and IRA Require Coverage of Vaccines: But What About Travel Vaccines?

"The ACA's vaccine coverage requirement does not distinguish between travel vaccines and other vaccines. Under CMS's implementing regulations, the ACA is interpreted to require coverage of those immunizations recommended by the ACIP for 'routine use.' The rules go on to clarify that 'routine use' means it is 'listed on the Immunization Schedules of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.' Therefore, if the CDC places a vaccine on its immunization schedules, it must be covered."  MORE >>

Health Affairs Forefront

[Guidance Overview]

CRS Report: Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit and Cost-Sharing Reductions

16 pages. "The budget reconciliation measure, enacted on August 16, 2022, extends the ARPA provision that expands eligibility for and the amount of the PTC for three years to sunset at the end of tax year 2025. The [IRS] promulgated a rule on October 13, 2022, to address family eligibility for the PTC, which would expand the number of individuals who would become eligible. This report describes current law and applicable regulations and guidance, specifically with regard to how the PTC and CSR requirements apply in 2022." [R44425 updated Nov. 7, 2022]  MORE >>

Congressional Research Service [CRS]

[Guidance Overview]

State Leave Mandates and Health Benefit Developments, Third-Quarter 2022

"States revised, clarified and expanded leave mandates during the third quarter of 2022, with developments in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Washington, DC.... Regulators in Arkansas and Louisiana focused on additional pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) restrictions.... Philadelphia adopted a commuter benefit mandate."  MORE >>

Mercer

[Guidance Overview]

Upcoming Deadline icon Are You Ready for Oregon's Paid Family Medical Leave Program?

"PFMLI covers nearly all employers with at least one employee working in Oregon. Employers cannot opt out of providing PFMLI, and must either participate in the OED's PFMLI program or provide benefits through a state-approved PFMLI equivalent plan.... To be exempt from the January 1, 2023, contribution start date, employers must submit either an equivalent plan application or a Declaration of Intent to Obtain an Equivalent Plan to the OED no later than November 30, 2022."  MORE >>

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Braidwood: A Challenge to the ACA's Preventive Services Mandate

"[P]lans and issuers should continue to offer the USPSTF-required preventive services without cost-sharing. Plans and issuers should also be mindful that states may have incorporated PHSA section 2713 into their state insurance codes, which could also impose the same or similar preventive services requirements on health insurance issuers." [Braidwood Management, Inc. v. Becerra, No. 20-0283 (N.D. Tex. Sep. 7, 2022)]  MORE >>

Groom Law Group

How Employers Can Dispel Common Myths About HSA-Qualified Plans

"The biggest barrier to HDHP and HSA adoption is education.... By communicating the value of your benefits offering and educating your staff on how your HSA-qualified plan can benefit them long-term, you can boost engagement during open enrollment and motivate your employees to explore and take advantage of their options. Here are some actionable steps you can take."  MORE >>

Corporate Synergies

Nontraditional Benefits Offerings Increase in Response to the New Normal of Remote and Hybrid Work

"Employers continue to look for ways to support employees at home with renewed interest in family forming (+2% from 2022 to 2023) and onsite childcare services (+4%). Pet insurance ... continues to be a popular benefit with 37% of respondents saying they would offer this benefit in 2023.... 69% of respondents indicating they will be offering [telehealth services] in 2023."  MORE >>

Milliman

Rising Healthcare Costs Driving Alternative Approaches to Retiree Healthcare Benefits

Infographic. "Costs for Pre-Medicare retirees are projected to increase 4.8% next year.... Costs for Medicare-eligible retirees are projected to rise 2.7% next year ... 1 in 5 [employers] have ceased offering or are considering replacing a group plan to pre-Medicare eligible retirees. Among those employers that terminated a group plan, 75% are replacing it with access to and financial support for individual insurance through a private marketplace."  MORE >>

Willis Towers Watson

Benefits in General

What Information Should Be in a Claims Denial Letter? (PDF)

"[T]wo cases in federal district court in Utah held that lawsuit filing deadlines were unenforceable because they were not disclosed in the notice of the final claims denial.... [A]nother recent case in Georgia ... held just the opposite ... [T]he more conservative decisions are a good reminder that more information is generally better in claims denial notices.... What must be, and what should be, in your denial letters to claimants?"  MORE >>

KLB Benefits Law Group

Employee Benefits Jobs

View job as Retirement Plan Consultant
            for The MandMarblestone Group, llc

Retirement Plan Consultant

The MandMarblestone Group, llc

Remote / Philadelphia PA

View job as Retirement Plan Consultant for The MandMarblestone Group, llc

View job as Senior Conversion Specialist
            for Third Party Administrators, Inc.

Senior Conversion Specialist

Third Party Administrators, Inc.

Remote / Bedford NH

View job as Senior Conversion Specialist for Third Party Administrators, Inc.

View job as Fund Valuation Specialist
            for BPAS

Fund Valuation Specialist

BPAS

Houston TX

View job as Fund Valuation Specialist for BPAS

View job as Withdrawal Coordinator
            for Northwest Retirement Plan Consultants

Withdrawal Coordinator

Northwest Retirement Plan Consultants

Remote

Press Releases

Enrique Olivares Joins Centivo as Chief Technology Officer

Centivo

Last Issue's Most Popular Items

ACA 2023 Compliance Checklist

Bolton

Department of the Treasury 2022-2023 Priority Guidance Plan (PDF)

U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service [IRS]

The California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act: HIPAA's Stricter Counterpart

McDonald Hopkins

Unsubscribe  |   Change Email Address

Search Past Issues   |   Privacy Policy

Submit an Article   |   Contact Us   |   Advertise Here

Copyright 2022 BenefitsLink.com, Inc. All materials contained in this newsletter are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of BenefitsLink.com, Inc., or in the case of third party materials, the owner of those materials. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notices from copies of the content.

BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter, ISSN no. 1536-9587.

Links to web sites other than BenefitsLink.com and EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com are offered as a service to our readers. We are not involved in their production and are not responsible for their content.