RESULTS OF AGENCY ENFORCEMENT OF MHPAEA INVESTIGATIONS The U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL) and Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released their latest enforcement findings on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), covering investigations completed during the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Their report sheds light on key areas of noncompliance and emphasizes the government’s ongoing … Continued
At the close of 2024, Congress passed two new pieces of legislation: the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act and the Employer Reporting Improvement Act. These laws simplify the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements for employers and introduce new limits on the IRS’s authority to enforce “pay-or-play” penalties, among other changes. Under the ACA, applicable large … Continued
IRS ISSUES TAX GUIDANCE ON STATE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PROGRAMS On January 15, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Revenue Ruling 2025-4 (providing guidance on the taxation and reporting of contributions and benefits under state paid family and medical leave (SPFML) programs. Key Highlights Employer and Employee Contributions Employee-required SPFML contributions paid by an … Continued
For employers subject to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), staying compliant with reporting requirements is non-negotiable. With 2025 due dates just around the corner, now is the time to prepare for distributing Forms 1095-C to employees and filing with the IRS. These forms provide essential information about health coverage offered to employees and are critical … Continued
TWO BILLS IMPACTING ACA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Two recent bills signed into law by President Biden are set to ease the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements for employers. The Paperwork Burden Reduction Act and the Employer Reporting Improvement Act introduce significant changes to the way employers handle Forms 1095-B and 1095-C, used to report health … Continued
STATE LEAVE LAW UPDATES MISSOURI On November 5, Missouri voters approved a new law mandating paid sick leave for employees in Missouri. Effective May 1, 2025, the new law applies to private employers of all sizes, with certain exceptions, such as interstate railroad employees, small local newspapers, and retail or service businesses with less than … Continued
As the year comes to an end, a crucial compliance deadline looms for employers with health plans. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), health plans and insurance issuers must submit a Gag Clause Compliance Attestation by December 31, 2024. Since its enactment in 2020, this regulation prohibits health plans from including gag clauses—provisions that limit … Continued
MEDICARE PART D CREDITABLE COVERAGE NOTICES Group health plans that provide prescription drug coverage to Medicare Part D eligible individuals must disclose whether that coverage is creditable or not creditable before the start of the annual coordinated election period for Medicare Part D. Creditable coverage means that the coverage is expected to pay on average … Continued
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires large employers to offer affordable health insurance coverage to their full-time employees or face a penalty known as the “Pay or Play” tax. This tax is based on the employer’s average monthly wage (AMW) and the number of full-time employees. The affordability rate for employer-sponsored health coverage will increase from 8.39% to … Continued
SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT DUE The Summary Annual Report (SAR) is a disclosure requirement under ERISA. The SAR acts as a narrative of the Form 5500 for employee benefit plans. It includes financial statements, funding requirements, and participants’ rights. The SAR must be provided to participants and enrolled beneficiaries within nine months after the end of the plan … Continued
