[Feb. 20, 2025; unnumbered] "[E]ffective immediately, the 2022 OCR Notice and Guidance no longer represents the views or policies of HHS OCR. Covered entities should no longer rely on the rescinded 2022 OCR Notice and Guidance. Pursuant to EO 14187 HHS shall, in consultation with the Attorney General, expeditiously issue new guidance protecting whistleblowers who take action related to ensuring compliance with this order."  MORE >>

"For group health plan sponsors, a key compliance step is coordinating with vendors to determine how they will assist plan sponsors in meeting their reporting obligations, as most group health plans will lack the necessary information on their own. This consideration should also extend to changing or onboarding new vendors, ensuring that reporting responsibilities are clearly defined well in advance. "  MORE >>

"Any change in employment status that affects eligibility under either the underlying benefit or the cafeteria plan, will also qualify as a change in status event. This category includes any of the following events that change the employment status of the employee, the employee's spouse, or the employee's dependent: [1] termination or commencement of employment, [2] strike or lockout, [3] commencement of or a return from an unpaid leave of absence, or [4] a change in worksite."  MORE >>

"An employee's health FSA election is irrevocable during a plan year unless an event occurs that fits within one of the exceptions available under IRS regulations or other guidance. Changes in medical condition or in a provider's recommendation are not changes in status, nor do they fall within the other exceptions applicable to health FSAs."  MORE >>

"Many people who purchase health insurance through the [ACA's] marketplaces are eligible for tax credits that lower their monthly premiums. In 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic still raged, Congress made those tax credits more generous.... Lower costs of coverage drove record enrollment in the marketplaces through 2025. But these lower premium costs will end after 2025, unless Congress acts to extend the tax credits."  MORE >>

15 pages. "The ACA established two types of cost-sharing reductions (CSRs).... Individuals who are eligible for CSRs may receive both types. The ARPA made temporary changes to the [premium tax credit (PTC)] and to CSRs.... The FY2022 budget reconciliation measure extended the ARPA provisions for three additional years to sunset at the end of tax year 2025. This report describes current law and applicable regulations and guidance, specifically with regard to how the PTC and CSR requirements apply in 2025." [R44425 updated Feb. 19, 2025]  MORE >>

"In recent years, numerous states have enacted laws that restrict or prohibit access to GAC for minors. Tennessee's Senate Bill (SB) 1, which is currently under review by the US Supreme Court ... is one such law. This alert ... examines Skrmetti and its implications for the rights of transgender youth and their families, as well as the legal and ethical obligations of the health care providers who serve them." [U.S. v. Skrmetti, No. 23-5600 (6th Cir. Sep. 28, 2023; cert. pet. granted Jun. 4, 2024, No. 23-477)]  MORE >>

12 pages. "This introductory guide outlines the basic structure, committee responsibilities, and organizational procedures underlying the creation and operation of a fiduciary committee in alignment with best practices to manage risk effectively while assuring legal and regulatory compliance."  MORE >>

"These recommendations cover various health plan topics from health plan design to oversight and monitoring to investigation and enforcement actions.... [1] Daily out of pocket maximums.... [2] Out of network benefits ... [3] Patient co-insurance ... [4] Location of services ... [5] Investigation ... [6] Enforcement."  MORE >>

"In 2023, the United States had an estimated population of 330 million individuals.... About 7.9% of the U.S. population was uninsured. Individuals (including those who were uninsured), health insurers, and federal and state governments spent approximately $4.6 trillion on various types of health consumption expenditures in 2023, which accounted for 16.7% of the nation's gross domestic product" [IF10830 Feb. 19, 2025]  MORE >>

"UnitedHealthcare is offering certain employees in its benefits operations unit the option to accept buyouts if they quit by March 3, following a tumultuous year for the insurance giant ... The benefits operations unit oversees multiple subdivisions that help manage customer service, claims, enrollment, customers' insurance benefits and more, one person said."  MORE >>

"Agency heads shall, in coordination with their DOGE Team Leads and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget [OMB], initiate a process to review all regulations subject to their sole or joint jurisdiction ... Within 60 days of the date of this order, agency heads shall, in consultation with the Attorney General as appropriate, identify the following classes of regulations ... Within 60 days of the date of this order, agency heads shall provide to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the [OMB] a list of all regulations identified by class.... The Administrator of OIRA shall consult with agency heads to develop a Unified Regulatory Agenda that seeks to rescind or modify these regulations, as appropriate." [Also see accompanying Fact Sheet]  MORE >>

"Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Donald Trump's pick to be Labor secretary, said [at a Senate HELP Committee confirmation hearing on February 19] that she'd work to help lawmakers craft legislation to provide independent contractors with more affordable health and retirement benefits If confirmed by the Senate."  MORE >>