Legal Alerts

Agencies Release Revised Instructions for 2022 Reference Year RxDC Reporting

By Stacy Barrow - April 6, 2023

On March 3, 2023, federal agencies released revised Prescription Drug Data Collection (RxDC) Reporting Instructions applicable to the 2022 reference year.  RxDC reporting for the 2022 reference year is due on or before June 1, 2023.    Background The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (“CAA, 2021”) includes a provision that requires group health plans and health [Read More]

Agencies Release FAQs in Advance of the Upcoming Gag Clause Attestation Filing Deadline

By Stacy Barrow - March 30, 2023

When the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “CAA”) was enacted on December 27, 2020, it included a provision that prohibits group health plans and health insurance carriers from entering into certain agreements that, either directly or indirectly, restrict the release of certain information related to provider networks and de-identified encounter data, among other things. Such [Read More]

Most Employers Are Required to File Electronic Information Returns Beginning in 2024

By Stacy Barrow - March 9, 2023

On February 21, 2023, the IRS released Final Rules amending the existing requirements related to mandatory e-filing of information returns, including Forms 1094-C and 1095-C, among others.  The final rules are effective for all applicable returns due on or after January 1, 2024.  While the final rule requires electronic filing for a number of different [Read More]

President Biden Announces Anticipated End of COVID-19 National and Public Health Emergencies

By Stacy Barrow - February 8, 2023

On January 30, 2023, President Biden issued a Statement of Administration Policy announcing his intent to extend the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies (collectively, “COVID-19 Emergencies”) set to expire on March 1 and April 11, respectively, until May 11, 2023.  While the COVID-19 Emergencies have not officially been extended at this time, if they [Read More]

CAA, 2023 Eliminates MHPAEA Exemption for Self-Funded Non-Federal Governmental Health Plans

CAA, 2023 Eliminates MHPAEA Exemption for Self-Funded Non-Federal Governmental Health Plans On December 29, 2022, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023  (“CAA, 2023”), into law.  The CAA 2023, which is largely a bipartisan spending bill, sunsets provisions of the Public Health Service Act which permitted large, self-funded, non-federal governmental plans (i.e., self-funded state [Read More]

Agencies Extend RxDC Reporting Deadline to January 31, 2023

On December 23, 2022, federal agencies released ACA and CAA Implementation FAQ Part 56 which extends the December 27, 2022 deadline for Prescription Drug Data Collection Reporting (“RxDC Reporting”) through January 31, 2023, and provides relief for plans that use a good faith, reasonable interpretation of the regulations and RxDC Reporting Instructions when submitting their [Read More]

IRS Releases Final Rules Extending Deadline to Furnish ACA Reporting Forms

IRS Releases Final Rules Extending Deadline to Furnish ACA Reporting Forms On December 12, 2022, the IRS released a Final Rule providing for, among other things,  an automatic 30-day extension of time for applicable large employers (“ALEs”) to furnish annual Forms 1095-C to individuals for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2022. The Final Rule [Read More]

Congress Set To Extend Telehealth Safe Harbor Beyond Calendar Year 2022

On December 20, 2022, the House and Senate released H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023  (“CAA, 2023”), which is expected to pass in both chambers this week before being presented to the President for signature, which is expected by the Friday deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown.  The CAA, 2023 is largely a [Read More]

IRS Releases PCORI Fee For Plan Years Ending Before October 1, 2023

The IRS has released Notice 2022-59, which sets the applicable PCORI fee for plan years ending between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023 at $3.00 per covered life. As a reminder, the PCORI was established as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to conduct research to evaluate the effectiveness of medical treatments, procedures [Read More]