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Important Update on Medicaid Unwinding
Millions of consumers may soon be eligible for Marketplace coverage. If you or a loved one are impacted by the loss of eligibility,...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Jan 24, 20232 min read
CAA 2021 Drug Reporting Requirement Update
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), Title II, Division BB included a new reporting requirement for group health plans and...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Dec 29, 20221 min read
Federal: Minimal Essential Coverage Reporting Regulations Finalized
Effective December 15, 2022, the IRS’s regulations were finalized and published in the Federal Register. They provide an automatic...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Dec 20, 20221 min read
New Guidance on Health Care Transparency
On August 19, 2022, federal agencies released a final rule and FAQs regarding the ban on surprise medical billing and other health care...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Oct 18, 20221 min read
HHS Announces Proposed Rule to Strengthen Nondiscrimination in Health Care
On July 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a proposed rule implementing Section 1557 of the...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Aug 25, 20221 min read
Federal: ACA Affordability Threshold Decreases
On July 25, 2022, the IRS announced that the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) affordability threshold will be 9.12 percent, reduced from 9.61...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Aug 12, 20221 min read
Inflation Subsidy Act - ACA Subsidy Extension
On Sunday August 7th, the U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This bill contains a $64 billion, 3-year extension of...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Aug 11, 20221 min read
Employee Benefit Trends That Are Shaping 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic shifted just about every aspect of our lives – including how we work, where we work, and what we want from our...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Jul 19, 20225 min read
Employer Considerations for Coverage of Abortion Benefits
In anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade, states...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Jun 27, 20225 min read
Distributing Required Notices: What You Need to Know
There are a lot of notices and materials that employers are required to distribute to their employees each year. The requirements for...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Jun 13, 20223 min read
Question of the Week
Do we need to offer summer interns group health insurance? Whether you need to offer benefits depends on your health plan eligibility...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Jun 8, 20222 min read
Timeline of Benefit Notices for Group Health Plans
THIS TIMELINE PROVIDES GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING FEDERAL BENEFIT NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH PLANS. ADDITIONAL...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
May 12, 20221 min read
State Disability Insurance Mandates
Currently, five states require employers to provide Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) wage replacement benefits to their employees who...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
May 9, 20221 min read
Infertility HRAs: Compliance Considerations for an Emerging Trend
In an effort to offer more robust and cost-effective infertility coverage to employees, the Infertility HRA is an increasingly popular...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Apr 25, 20223 min read
Business Owners - Planning Opportunities
PRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL Business owners faced historic challenges during the pandemic, but now they’re gaining confidence. A record 36%...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Apr 20, 20221 min read
FDA Authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 Treatment Pill
On Wednesday, December 22, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorization for an antiviral...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Feb 1, 20222 min read
PCORI Fee Amount Adjusted for 2022
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Notice 2022-04 to increase the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Jan 25, 20222 min read
5 Strategies for Reducing Health Benefits Costs in 2022
For the past two decades, health costs have increased each year. This happens for a variety of reasons, such as inflation or, say, a...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Oct 12, 20214 min read
The Importance of Preventive Care
Photo: Pixabay Seven out of 10 Americans die each year from chronic diseases, many of which are preventable. When preventive care is used...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Jun 30, 20211 min read
Benefits Debit Cards
Photo: Pixabay Benefits debit cards are a valuable asset if you participate in flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health savings accounts...
Karl J. Ruth Jr.
Jun 22, 20211 min read
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