January 10, 2022 CMS NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: CMS Media Relations CMS Media Inquiries As part of its ongoing efforts across many channels to expand Americans’ access to free testing, the Biden-Harris Administration is requiring insurance companies and group health plans to cover the cost of over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests, so people with private health coverage can get them for free starting January 15th. The new coverage requirement means that most consumers with private health coverage can go online or to a pharmacy or store, buy a test, and either get it paid for up front by… Read More
On December 21, 2021, the IRS released Notice 2022-4 which updated the amount of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee that self-insured health plans must pay for plan years ending on or after October 1, 2021, and before October 1, 2022. The PCORI fee is calculated using the average number of lives covered under the policy or plan and the applicable dollar amount for that policy year or plan year. The applicable dollar amount was $2.00 when the fee was enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act and that amount is increased annually based on increases in the… Read More
November 24, 2021 In proposed regulations released on November 22, 2021, the IRS permanently and automatically extends the deadline for 30 days from January 31, 2022 each year for employers and insurers to furnish individual statements on health coverage and full-time employee status (Forms 1095-B and 1095-C). This new requirement applies to the 2021 reporting (March 2, 2022). The proposed regulations do not extend the good-faith penalty relief to 2021 for incorrect or incomplete reports due in 2022. In the proposed regulations, the IRS did not extend the due date for filing the 1094 and 1095 forms… Read More
Today, the IRS released IRS Revenue Procedure 2021-45 which provides the 2022 cost-of-living increases for inflation for certain items. In addition, on November 4, 2021, the IRS released Notice 2021-61 which provided the 2022 COLA increases for retirement plans, including 401(k) plans. Taxable Years Beginning in 2022 Taxable Years Beginning in 2021 Limit on voluntary employee salary reduction contributions to a health flexible spending arrangement (Section 3.16 of Rev. Proc. 2021-45) $2,850 $2,750 Maximum carryover amount of unused FSA amounts (Section 3.16 of Rev. Proc.2021-45 $570 $550 Monthly limit on fringe benefit exclusion for transit and parking (Section 3.17 of Rev…. Read More
October 4, 2021 Today, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Affordable Care Act. These FAQs provide guidance of how receiving COVID-19 vaccinations for eligibility HIPAA nondiscrimination, premium discounts under HIPAA wellness program purposes and for determining affordability of coverage with respect to the employer mandate. The important FAQs are provided below: Q3: May a group health plan (or health insurance issuer… Read More
