"[P]lan sponsors [should] pay particular attention to notifying employees of the upcoming changes that will accompany the end of the PHE and NE and to ensure that participants covered under an HDHP understand that they may continue to contribute to their HSAs."  MORE >>

"This article provides (i) a recap of the deadlines, (ii) rules of thumb for determining the deadlines, and (iii) tables more specifically addressing some of the most common deadlines that arise. Plan administrators should review plan operations now and prepare to administer these shifting deadlines correctly to avert potential penalties and minimize avoidable claims exposure."  MORE >>

"The FAQs leave some open questions -- notably, no examples address how the outbreak period's end will affect extended deadlines for filing benefit claims, appeals, and requests for external review; express guidance would be welcomed."  MORE >>

"Employers covered by San Francisco's ... Health Care Security Ordinance [HCSO] are required to submit the Employer Annual Report Form ... by May 1, 2023.... [The HCSO] applies to private and non-profit employers who employ any individual in San Francisco, and twenty or more workers ... inside or outside of San Francisco."  MORE >>

"This final rule will strengthen Medicare Advantage and hold health insurance companies to higher standards ... by [1] cracking down on misleading marketing schemes by Medicare Advantage plans, Part D plans and their downstream entities; [2] removing barriers to care created by complex coverage criteria and utilization management; and [3] expanding access to behavioral health care. The new rule will also ... implement a key provision of the Inflation Reduction Act ... that will improve access to affordable prescription drug coverage[.]" [Also available: Fact Sheet]  MORE >>

"[T]he severance plan was contained within BCI's employee handbook. The plan could be amended or eliminated pursuant to the same procedure that applies to any other portion of the handbook. The handbook may only be modified or amended in writing by the Human Resources department.... The Board was required to have HR effectuate its elimination of the severance plan in writing." [Messer v. Bristol Compressors Int'l, LLC, No. 21-2363 (4th Cir. Apr. 3, 2023; unpub.)]  MORE >>

"For employees working remotely, the DOL's Wage and Hour Division says their work location for counting the number of employees within 75 miles is 'the office to which they report or from which their assignments are made.' Further, you should include in your employee count all other remote employees who report or get assignments from the same location."  MORE >>

"Are you leveraging the lowest cost networks and vendors based on your geographic footprint? Many employers have different geographical footprints than they did before the pandemic.... Have you negotiated your administrative and program fees? Is your pharmacy contract keeping pace with market improvements? ... Are there conditions or procedures that would benefit from a centers-of-excellence approach? ... Are you supporting virtual care in ways that improve access and reduce costs?"  MORE >>