"The CAA has three deadlines coming up very quickly: [1] Notice regarding patient protections against surprise billing ... [2] CAA prescription drug data collection ... [3] Participant-level transparency in coverage (TiC) ... Other frequently overlooked items include: [1] ACA reporting ... [2] Imputed income for domestic partners ... [3] Nondiscrimination testing for cafeteria plans."  MORE >>

"The bulletin sets regulatory expectations for website and mobile app development for a wide range of companies subject to HIPAA, including hospitals, physician groups, health insurance plans, pharmacies, and other covered entities and business associates. The bulletin comes amid a growing number of class action lawsuits concerning healthcare companies and tracking technology."  MORE >>

"To comply with HIPAA, covered entities may need to enter into business associate agreements ('BAA') with their third party tracking website vendors where permissible under HIPAA.... HHS advises that regulated entities must address the use of tracking technologies in their risk analysis and must implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards in accordance with the Security Rule."  MORE >>

"The guidance generally provides that [HIPAA covered entities and business associates]: May not impermissibly disclose protected health information (PHI) to tracking technology vendors (TTV). Must ensure that they disclose PHI only as expressly permitted or required by the HIPAA Privacy Rule."  MORE >>

"FAMLI is Colorado's state-administered insurance program that will provide benefits to employees for some types of leave starting January 1, 2024. Premiums for employers with 10 or more employees nationwide are split equally between employers and Colorado employees at a rate of 0.9% of Colorado wages. Smaller employers, with less than 10 employees, are only required to remit the employee share of the premium, .45%."  MORE >>

"Employers with six or more employees residing in the state of Massachusetts are required to submit the HIRD form by December 15. The form captures information on employer sponsored insurance (ESI) and is used by the state to identify individuals with access to ESI who may be eligible for the MassHealth Premium Assistance Program."  MORE >>

"Two versions of the new strategy are in play.... In one approach, insurers or employers continue to cover the drugs but designate them as 'nonessential,' which allows the health plans to bypass annual limits set by the [ACA] on how much patients can pay in out-of-pocket costs for drugs.... In the other approach, employers ... simply drop coverage for specific drugs or classes of drugs. Then, the outside vendor helps patients provide the financial and other information needed to apply for free medication from drugmakers through charity programs intended for uninsured patients."  MORE >>

"Companies used to brag about their health and retirement benefits, but those have become table stakes. If an organization is going to be competitive as an employer, it must go well beyond the traditional benefits package.... Employers also need to make sure employees know what benefits are available and, more importantly, help workers feel comfortable using them."  MORE >>

"88% of employers ranked health-related benefits as 'very important' or 'extremely important,' prioritizing it above retirement savings, leave, family care, education, and transportation benefits.... 93% of surveyed organizations now offer telemedicine or telehealth services as part of their healthcare coverage -- an increase of 20 percentage points as compared to 2019. Similarly, 91% of employers now offer mental health coverage, a new record from years prior."  MORE >>

"Industry reports have suggested that hospitals had high margins in 2020 and 2021 but have faced significant financial challenges in 2022.... While some hospitals are struggling in the current environment -- with high inflation and the ongoing burdens posed by COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) -- [these] results indicate that the largest for-profit systems have had operating margins that exceed pre-pandemic levels."  MORE >>

"Victims of New York severe winter storm and snowstorm beginning November 18, 2022, now have until March 15, 2023, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, ... [I]ndividuals and households affected by the severe winter storm and snowstorm that reside or have a business in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wyoming counties qualify for tax relief."  MORE >>