IRS Guidance: Emergency Personal Expense and Domestic Abuse Survivor Distributions On June 20, 2024, the IRS issued Notice 2024-55 addressing exceptions to the 10 percent additional tax for early withdrawals in the case of (1) “Emergency Personal Expense Distributions” (EPEDs), and (2) “Domestic Abuse Victim… Read more
MHPAEA: $32,000 in ERISA Penalties for Failure to Provide Plan Documents The complexities surrounding compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) may seem daunting for benefit professionals. A recent case in Montana has highlighted… Read more
Preparing for the Upcoming PCORI Fee Preparing for the Upcoming PCORI Fee The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee filing deadline is fast approaching! Here’s what you need to know: Key Details Due Date: The PCORI fee is due by July… Read more
HHS Issues Updates on Cybersecurity Incidents HHS Issues Updates on Cybersecurity Incidents On May 31,2024, HHS’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released updated FAQs addressing the investigation of Change Healthcare (a unit of United Healthcare Group (UHG) that serves as a… Read more
Updated Gag Clause Attestation Submission Instructions Released by DOL We have new Gag Clause Prohibition Compliance Attestation Instructions for 2024! And the compliance nerds rejoice! Huzzah! Let’s begin at the beginning… Group health plans[1] had an additional reporting requirement on December 31, 2023 that… Read more
How New Section 1557 Rules Affect Health Plans and Insurers Section 1557 of the ACA prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability by a “covered entity” with respect to its health programs or activities. A covered entity is any recipient… Read more
IRS Releases Guidance on Disaster Relief Distributions and Loans under 401(k) Plans On May 3, 2024, the IRS issued guidance in the form of “frequently asked questions” (FAQs) on disaster relief distributions and expanded loans under qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) plans, pursuant to the SECURE 2.0… Read more
Best Practices for Stronger Cybersecurity for ERISA Plans It’s always a great time to review EBSA’s suggested cybersecurity best practices for ERISA Plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers, as well as Plan participants and beneficiaries, focusing on applicability to health Plan compliance. Cybersecurity &… Read more
HHS New Rule On PHI Disclosures for Reproductive Health Care The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is requiring group health plans (as HIPAA covered entities) to modify their rules regarding the uses and disclosures of PHI relating to reproductive health care. These changes… Read more
