"Effective for tax forms starting with the 2024 calendar year, the PBRA provides [that] ... [e]mployers are no longer required to send the 1095-B and 1095-C tax forms to covered individuals unless a form is requested.... Effective for tax forms due after December 31, 2024, the Employer Reporting Improvement Act (ERIA) ... [c]odifies the IRS' current practice of allowing employers to offer the 1095-B and 1095-C tax forms to individuals electronically if an individual affirmatively consented to receive forms electronically at any prior time."  MORE >>

"ALEs only need to inform employees of their ability to request a copy of their 1095-C via a 'clear and conspicuous notice.' If the employee requests the form, the ALE must provide it by the later of [1] January 31 or [2] 30 days after the request. Employers can also provide a copy of Form 1095-C electronically[.]"  MORE >>

"[The Employer Reporting Improvement Act (ERIA)] amends Section 6501 of the Code to create a six-year statute of limitations that applies to the IRS assessing and collecting ACA pay or play penalties. Previously, the IRS stated that no statute of limitations applied to collecting ACA pay or play penalties."  MORE >>

"The Proposed Rule ... aims to 'increase the cybersecurity' for electronic protected health information (ePHI) by addressing the changing healthcare environment, increased frequency of breaches and cyberattacks, common compliance deficiencies observed by the HHS Office for Civil Rights, and other relevant changes to the legal landscape such as court decisions and best practices. Comments to the Proposed Rule are due March 7, 2025."  MORE >>

"Americans will increasingly consider care services that offer guaranteed, upfront, transparent pricing. This will particularly accelerate when it comes to prescriptions and more novel longevity-focused diagnostics, including bundled services like labs and MRIs.... The U.S. health care affordability crisis can be solved by 2030 if we can improve access to primary care.... [S]mall -- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) will continue to lead the way as the country's most innovative health care buyers."  MORE >>

"Because state attempts to collect this data from ERISA self-insured plans have been held to be preempted by ERISA, ERIC would consider pursuing or supporting litigation challenging the Proposed Rules on behalf of our large employer member companies if advanced. ERIC therefore strongly urges the Department to amend the Proposed Rule to explicitly exclude claims data reporting requirements related to ERISA self-insured health benefit plans."  MORE >>

"What's New: [1] Preventive care for purposes of qualifying as a high deductible health plan under section 223.... [2] Expenses treated as amounts paid for medical care." [Also see: 2024 IRS Form 8889, draft dated May 30, 2024]  MORE >>

"While the basic functionality of the service may work fine, there may be small features, functions or services you never activated or that fell by the wayside. Questions to guide your review of the agreement include: [1] How did the past year go relative to the technology service? [2] Is the technology working as expected? Is everyone happy with the tool? [2] Is the provider still delivering on the agreement, and does it still meet your needs? [4] Have your processes or other factors changed, creating a need for different services?"  MORE >>