"Preventive care requirements receiving an A or B rating from the USPSTF before March 23, 2010, are not affected by the ruling, which means plans and issuers must still cover those preventive care services without cost-sharing.... [FAQs Part 59] clarifies the Braidwood decision's effect on the high deductible health plan (HDHP) preventive care deductible safe harbor."  MORE >>

"[No] one has publicly disputed the CMS website statement that the waivers and flexibilities will continue until May 11, despite the now-terminated National Emergency serving as the source of authority for some of those waivers and flexibilities; however, providers should be working to bring operations into compliance as soon as possible."  MORE >>

"The most notable revisions are ... [1] Nearly all plans must report ... [2] Multiple vendors can submit data for the same plan ... [3] No Enforcement Relief for 2022 ... [4] HIOS Guidance ... [5] P2 File Reporting Clarifications ... [6] D1- Premium and Life Years Clarifications ... [7] Mid-Year Vendor Switches[.]"  MORE >>

"Most, if not all, health FSAs will qualify for the special limited COBRA obligation, and those that do may limit COBRA coverage in two ways: [1] the maximum COBRA coverage period may terminate at the end of the year in which the qualifying event occurs; and [2] the health FSA is not required to offer COBRA coverage to qualified beneficiaries whose accounts are 'overspent' as of the date of the qualifying event."  MORE >>

"[T]he court considered three questions. First, whether Bristol Compressors validly eliminated its severance plan before terminating Plaintiffs' employment. Second, whether certain Plaintiffs who signed a Stay Bonus Letter Agreement waived their claims against Bristol Compressors. And third, whether four of the Plaintiffs received adequate notice under the WARN Act before their employment was terminated." [Messer v. Bristol Compressors Int'l, LLC, No. 21-2363 (4th Cir. Apr. 3, 2023; unpub.)]  MORE >>

"Employers and those responsible for plan administration and recordkeeping should take heed that under the agreement, Prudential must notify ERISA group life insurance policyholders that they must not collect any premiums from any employee or their eligible dependent for supplemental coverage that requires [evidence of insurability (EOI)] without first confirming that Prudential has approved the employee's or their eligible dependent's EOI, and that in the event they collect premiums from any employee for supplemental coverage that requires EOI without first confirming that Prudential has approved such EOI, they may be liable to the beneficiaries of any such employee or their eligible dependent."  MORE >>

"Telehealth utilization has changed over time since the steep increase from the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This report updates prior findings on national trends of telehealth use ... from April 2021 through August 2022. Updated trends show a steady use of telehealth; however, disparities in video telehealth use persist in populations and across insurance types."  MORE >>

"[T]he majority (62 percent) of health savings account (HSA) accountholders reported that they are using the account to pay for out-of-pocket expenses. And most (69 percent) viewed the HSA as a savings account. However, 24 percent of HSA accountholders reported using their account to invest in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. One-third (32 percent) viewed the account as an investment account."  MORE >>

"[C]hoosing among the various options is akin to navigating a confusing, shifting maze. There are cross-cutting considerations regarding out-of-pocket costs, the level of monthly premiums, the level of access to preferred doctors offices and hospitals, the coverage of regular prescription drug costs and various other factors to throw in the mix."  MORE >>