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Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter
April 25, 2023
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4 New Job Opportunities
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[Guidance Overview]
End of COVID-19 Emergencies: Impact on Employee Benefit Plans
"Plan sponsors will need to decide whether to continue covering COVID-19 tests and vaccines at the enhanced level ... Plan sponsors should review any communications and plan materials regarding coverage of COVID-19 tests and vaccines and determine whether they need to issue
a summary of material modifications (SMM) or amend their plan ... Plan sponsors should review the SBC for the current plan year and determine whether [advance] notice of any changes must be sent to participants." MORE >>
Vorys
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[Guidance Overview]
CMS Releases Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2024 Final Rule
"The Notice implements various changes previously proposed by CMS, including [1] requiring provider networks to comply with network adequacy standards and delaying the implementation of appointment wait time standards, [2] standardizing plan options,
[3] adding special enrollment periods to increase ease of obtaining coverage, [4] strengthening markets, and [5] bolstering program integrity." MORE >>
Sheppard Mullin
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[Guidance Overview]
Transitioning from Medicaid to Employer-Sponsored Insurance (PDF)
"[1] What steps should a person take if they have an offer of employer-sponsored health insurance? ... [2] When can eligible employees enroll in employer-sponsored insurance ... [3] For people who enroll in employer-sponsored insurance during a special
enrollment period, when will their coverage start? ... [4] What happens if someone misses the deadline to enroll in employer-sponsored insurance? ... [5] Can a person enroll in a marketplace plan if they have an offer of employer-sponsored insurance? Will they be eligible for financial help?" MORE >>
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
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Understanding Recent Litigation on Medication Abortion: A Guide for Health Plan Sponsors
"With the January 2023 changes to the FDA protocol, many group health plan sponsors began exploring adding mifepristone to the plan's pharmacy benefit, since it no longer had to be dispensed in-person by a health care provider.... [It] is unclear whether pharmacies will
continue to pursue certification to dispense mifepristone while the Texas case proceeds through the appellate process." [Alliance for Hippocratic Med. v. U.S. Food & Drug Admin., No. 22-0223 (N.D. Tex. Apr. 7, 2023; S. Ct. No. 22A902 grant of application for stay of District Court order Apr. 21, 2023) MORE >>
Proskauer
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Telehealth, PBM Reform Legislation Among Health Care Issues Pending in DC
"The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act 2023 [S 127] is aimed at helping drive down costs for seniors by holding PBMs
accountable for the use of anti-competitive business practices.... Telehealth usage now represents about 40% of behavioral health visits ... Significant policy changes in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency accelerated ... widespread use of telehealth services ... not all policy changes will continue permanently[.]" MORE >>
InsuranceNewsNet.com
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HSAs: Avoiding ERISA Status While Still Providing a Strong Benefit
"Proper plan sponsor HSA use requires employee participation to be voluntary, although employers may use automatic enrollment; employers cannot limit the ability of employees to transfer assets to different HSA administrators; employers cannot limit the use of HSA funds or
withdrawals; employers cannot influence employees' HSA investment decisions; and employers must offer a reasonable availability of investment options," MORE >>
planadviser
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Mental Healthcare Access and Quality Critical but Lacking
"While 99% [of employers] agreed that effective and timely access to in-network behavioral health providers is important; 31% expressed dissatisfaction with efforts to identify and address gaps in network access. Tele-behavioral health was important to 95% of employers and 65%
were satisfied around these services. Only 34% of employers agreed that their behavioral health directories were an accurate reflection of the providers available to plan participants." MORE >>
National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
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Benefits in General |
[Official Guidance]
IRS Disaster Relief Notice OK-2023-01, for Victims of Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds and Tornadoes in Oklahoma
"Victims of severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes in Oklahoma from April 19 to April 20, now have until August 31, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments ... [I]ndividuals and households ... that reside or
have a business in McClain and Pottawatomie counties qualify for tax relief." MORE >>
Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
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Employee Benefits Jobs |
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Analyst I or II
Minnesota Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Saint Paul MN / Hybrid
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Press Releases |
DOL Appoints Jack Towarnicky, Member of Aequum LLC, to ERISA Advisory Council
aequum LLC
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MissionSquare Retirement Board of Directors Appoints Deanna J. Santana Acting CEO and President
MissionSquare Retirement
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Last Issue's Most Popular Items |
FAQs Address ACA Preventive Care Questions Post-Braidwood
Seyfarth
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Is the HSA a Health or a Retirement Savings Benefit?
planadviser
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DOL Releases FAQs After Federal Court Partially Vacates Preventive Service Requirements
OneDigital
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BenefitsLink® Retirement Plans Newsletter, ISSN no. 1536-9587.
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