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March 5, 2021
|13 min read
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Notice 2021-15 (the Notice), which clarifies the provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
(CAA) applicable to health and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and provides additional relief for cafeteria plans.
(CAA) applicable to health and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and provides additional relief for cafeteria plans.
February 25, 2021
|5 min read
January 6, 2021
|2 min read
CAA Benefits Alert: Employers May Now Pay Employees Student Loan Assistance Benefits Until 2026
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) includes a provision allowing employers to make tax-free payments on their employees’ student loans of up
to $5,250 per year through January 1, 2026. This is a five-year extension of a provision originally enacted in the CARES Act.
to $5,250 per year through January 1, 2026. This is a five-year extension of a provision originally enacted in the CARES Act.
January 6, 2021
|6 min read
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the Act) provides additional funding for mental health and substance abuse services and also provides guidance
and imposes additional reporting and compliance obligations on group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide mental health (MH) and/or
substance use disorder (SUD) benefits.
and imposes additional reporting and compliance obligations on group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide mental health (MH) and/or
substance use disorder (SUD) benefits.
January 6, 2021
|8 min read
In an unexpected but hard-fought win for consumers of medical care, surprise billing reform was signed into law as part of the $900 billion Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021. The aptly-named “No Surprises Act” (the Act) is the result of a multi-year, bi-partisan effort to end surprise billing for medical plan
participants and hold them harmless from balance billing by out-of-network providers, including federally regulated air ambulances.
Appropriations Act, 2021. The aptly-named “No Surprises Act” (the Act) is the result of a multi-year, bi-partisan effort to end surprise billing for medical plan
participants and hold them harmless from balance billing by out-of-network providers, including federally regulated air ambulances.
December 30, 2020
|2 min read
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Act), includes relief under tax-qualified ERISA retirement plans with respect to plan loans and withdrawals for
certain natural disasters in 2020 through February 25, 2021.
certain natural disasters in 2020 through February 25, 2021.
December 30, 2020
|2 min read
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Act), includes relief for sponsors of overfunded defined-benefit pension plans who make qualified transfers to
fund a portion of their retiree medical benefit liabilities.
fund a portion of their retiree medical benefit liabilities.
December 29, 2020
|5 min read
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) includes rules requiring brokers and consultants to disclose compensation that those service providers
receive to steer health plan sponsors to certain insurance carriers, benefits administrators, and other vendors. These new comprehensive disclosure rules
add a layer of transparency to what has otherwise been a gray area for many employer plan sponsors and are more comprehensive than limite...Read more
receive to steer health plan sponsors to certain insurance carriers, benefits administrators, and other vendors. These new comprehensive disclosure rules
add a layer of transparency to what has otherwise been a gray area for many employer plan sponsors and are more comprehensive than limite...Read more
December 29, 2020
|3 min read
CAA Benefits Alert: 2021 Appropriations Bill Adds New Restrictions on “Gag Clauses” for Health Plans
Section 201 of the No Surprises Act, recently enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), prohibits group health plans, health plan
insurers, and issuers of health insurance coverage (together, Covered Parties) from entering into contracts that restrict a plan from accessing and sharing
certain information.
insurers, and issuers of health insurance coverage (together, Covered Parties) from entering into contracts that restrict a plan from accessing and sharing
certain information.
December 29, 2020
|7 min read
CAA Benefits Alert: Flexible Spending Account Relief in the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) includes relief for plan sponsors offering Health Care and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
(FSAs). These voluntary rules will benefit participants who have FSA funds left over due to medical care provider and school/daycare closures and remote
work arrangements in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.
(FSAs). These voluntary rules will benefit participants who have FSA funds left over due to medical care provider and school/daycare closures and remote
work arrangements in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.
December 29, 2020
|3 min read
CAA Benefits Alert: New Health Plan Reporting on Pharmacy Benefits and Drug Costs
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), adds a new annual reporting requirement that requires every group health plan and every health insurance
issuer that offers group or individual health insurance to submit an informational report on pharmacy benefits and drug costs with the Secretary of Health
and Human Services (HHS), the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Treasury. Church plans are exempt from this reporting requirement.
issuer that offers group or individual health insurance to submit an informational report on pharmacy benefits and drug costs with the Secretary of Health
and Human Services (HHS), the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Treasury. Church plans are exempt from this reporting requirement.