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Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter
May 5, 2023
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4 New Job Opportunities
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[Guidance Overview]
Can a Telehealth-Only Plan Continue After the End of the COVID-19 Emergency?
"The relief took effect in 2020 and applies for the duration of any plan year beginning before the end of the COVID-19 PHE. If the PHE ends on May 11, 2023, a calendar year telehealth-only plan could remain covered by the exemption until the end of 2023. But if the plan year
is, for example, June 1-May 31, the relief applies only until the end of the current plan year on May 31, 2023; as of June 1, 2023, that plan would have to comply with the preventive services mandate and the prohibition on annual and lifetime limits." MORE >>
Thomson Reuters / EBIA
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[Guidance Overview]
IRS Reconfirms Prohibition, Consequences of Health FSA and DCAP Substantiation Shortcuts
"The IRS's latest reminder of the substantiation requirements for health FSAs and DCAPs does not break any new
ground -- the rules have been in place for many years and the prohibition on substantiation shortcuts is well known. Nevertheless, it serves as a helpful review of the rules, while also underscoring the potential problems with some current arrangements and making it even more difficult for plans that are not in compliance to say they 'didn't get the memo.' " MORE >>
Thomson Reuters / EBIA
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[Guidance Overview]
Maryland Modifies Its Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program
"Contributions to the Program will now begin for both the employer and employees on October 1, 2024. Eligible employees may begin to use Program benefits on January 1, 2026.... Contributions to the Program will be split 50/50 between employers and employees.2 However,
employers may choose to pay more than 50 percent (up to the entire portion required for employees)." MORE >>
Littler
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First Circuit: TPA Was Not a Plan Fiduciary
"Addressing the broad implications of its analysis, the court explained that attributing fiduciary status to TPAs in situations like this could ultimately harm participants by interfering with typical TPA business models. For example, to avoid functional fiduciary status, a TPA
could be required to play the role of an unsecured lender to the plan by paying claims in advance and being reimbursed later." [Mass. Laborers' Health & Welfare Fund v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mass., No. 22-1317 (1st Cir. Apr. 25, 2023)] MORE >>
Thomson Reuters / EBIA
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Fifth Circuit Affirms Judgment Ordering Blue Cross to Pay for Proton Beam Therapy to Treat Throat Cancer
"The Fifth Circuit explained the difference between a legal dispute, that is a dispute about a plan's meaning, and a factual dispute, which is a dispute about a plan's application.... The court rejected Blue Cross's arguments that it gave the legally correct
interpretation. The court also agreed with the district court that substantial evidence does not support Blue Cross's decision." [Salim v. Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Co., No. 22-30573 (5th Cir. May 3, 2023; unpub.)] MORE >>
Roberts Disability Law
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UnitedHealthcare Hit with ERISA Lawsuit for Allegedly Reversing an Approved Claim
"The insurer did not give an explanation for the reversal of coverage for a midwife, leaving a couple with no recourse after exhausting all processes within the claims processing, including a formal appeal, which was denied.... Plaintiffs ... contended that UnitedHealthcare,
Oxford Health Plans LLC and Oxford Health Insurance Inc. changed course regarding the midwife after the baby was born[.]" [Winter v. UnitedHealthcare, No. 23-0523 (D. Conn. complaint filed Apr. 25, 2023)] MORE >>
BenefitsPro; free registration required
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New Life Insurer Settlement with DOL: Employers Could Be at Risk (PDF)
"Employers must be hypervigilant, ensuring that any [evidence of insurability (EOI)] requirements are satisfied before payroll deducting for optional life coverage. Employers should review enrollment and payroll coordination processes in place with current technology or
enrollment platform vendors to ensure alignment of records and identification of outstanding EOI requests on an ongoing basis. If the new DOL processes are ignored by an employer, the risks are huge." MORE >>
Lockton
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[Opinion]
The Health Plan Price Transparency Data Files Are a Mess; States Can Help Make Them Better
"Although these are federal rules, state departments of insurance have the primary enforcement role with respect to state-regulated insurers. Insurance regulators can do more than just confirm that insurers are posting these data -- they can also help ensure that the data
files, currently difficult to access and use, fulfill their potential to help constrain health care cost growth and improve affordability for state residents." MORE >>
Health Affairs Forefront
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Benefits in General |
[Official Guidance]
Text of IRS Notice 2023-36: Public Recommendations Invited on Items to Be Included on the 2023-2024 Priority Guidance Plan (PDF)
"The 2023-2024 Priority Guidance Plan will identify guidance projects that the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to actively work on as priorities during the period from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024." MORE >>
Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
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[Official Guidance]
Text of IRS Disaster Relief Notice CA-2023-04, for Victims of Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in California
"Victims of Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides in California that began on Feb. 21, 2023, now have until Aug. 15, 2023, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments ... [I]ndividuals and
households ... that reside or have a business in Modoc County qualify for tax relief." MORE >>
Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
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Employee Benefits Jobs |
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Press Releases |
PSCA Signature Awards: Recognizing Excellence in Retirement Plan Education
PSCA [Plan Sponsor Council of America]
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PSCA Honors Annette Grabow with Lifetime Achievement Award
PSCA [Plan Sponsor Council of America]
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Webcasts and Conferences (Health & Welfare Plans) |
2023 High-Cost Claims and Injectable Drug Trends Analysis
May 17, 2023 WEBINAR
Sun Life Financial
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Emerging Impacts of Dobbs on Employers, Employee Benefits and Healthcare
May 31, 2023 WEBINAR
American Bar Association Joint Committee on Employee Benefits [JCEB]
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Transgender Healthcare Benefits and Exclusions: Is Your Benefits Plan Compliant?
June 7, 2023 WEBINAR
Littler
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Last Issue's Most Popular Items |
IRS Chief Counsel Discusses Cafeteria Plan Substantiation Rules
The Wagner Law Group
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Preparing for HIPAA Privacy Rule Changes
McGuireWoods
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Evolving Laws and Litigation Post–Dobbs
Morgan Lewis
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BenefitsLink® Retirement Plans Newsletter, ISSN no. 1536-9587.
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