35 pages; May 2, 2024. "What's New ... [1] The business mileage rate for 2025 is 70 cents per mile.... [2] For 2025, the monthly exclusion for qualified parking is $325 and the monthly exclusion for commuter highway vehicle transportation and transit passes is $325.... [3] For plan years beginning in 2025, a cafeteria plan may not allow an employee to request salary reduction contributions for a health FSA in excess of $3,300."  MORE >>

"Plan sponsors that offer high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) paired with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) will no longer be permitted to cover telehealth services before the deductible is met, as Congress failed to extend the safe harbor allowing this benefit ... The provision may be taken up in the next Congress, but current rules expire for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2025."  MORE >>

"Congress has extended many Medicare telehealth flexibilities through March 31, 2025 ... However, several important flexibilities, such as first-dollar coverage of telehealth services under high deductible health plans (HDHPs) and health savings accounts (HSAs), will expire on December 31, 2024."  MORE >>

"[HHS] is withdrawing a set of proposed rules aimed at expanding access to contraception that would have made it more difficult for employer-sponsored health plans and insurers to exclude coverage of birth control.... At the time the rules were proposed last year, HHS said it wanted to balance access to contraceptives with the religious objections certain employers may have to providing the benefit."  MORE >>

"Although this challenge only addressed the Final Rule's Fixed Indemnity requirements, the American Association of Ancillary Benefits has brought separate litigation ... seeking to invalidate the Final Rule's short-term limited duration provisions." [Manhattan Life Ins. Co. v. HHS, No. 24-0178 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 4, 2024); American Association of Ancillary Benefits v. Becerra, No. 24-0783 (E.D. Tex. complaint filed Aug. 29, 2024)]  MORE >>

"A federal district court recently vacated a new consumer notice requirement for fixed indemnity excepted benefit plans ... [which] was designed to highlight the differences between fixed indemnity excepted benefits and comprehensive health insurance coverage. While the court decision eliminates the need to provide the notice at this time, it is unclear whether the government will appeal the court decision[.]" [Manhattan Life Ins. Co. v. HHS, No. 24-0178 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 4, 2024)]  MORE >>

"[T]he federal judge determined that Dr. Purl has at least a 'reasonably probable chance' of prevailing in her lawsuit alleging that HHS exceeded its statutory authority under HIPAA when it published the 2024 Reproductive Privacy Rule. The Final Rule is in full effect for all other covered entities and business associates in all 50 states." [Purl v. HHS, No. 24-0228 (N.D. Tex. Dec. 22, 2024)]  MORE >>

"[A] growing number of 'fee-based' benefits firms have emerged in the marketplace. These fee-based firms do not accept compensation such as commissions or bonuses from vendors associated with health plans, which allows them to offer the unbiased advice needed to help employers maximize their return on healthcare investments."  MORE >>

"The new administration's priorities and positions on certain benefits-related issues are expected to take a dramatic shift from those of the Biden administration.... [1] Fiduciary rule ... [2] Environmental, social, and governance rule ... [3] Section 1557 rule ... [4] Transgender affirming care for minors."  MORE >>