Legal Alerts

REMINDER: PCORI Fees Due By July 31, 2020

By Stacy Barrow - June 9, 2020

REMINDER:  PCORI Fees Due By July 31, 2020 Employers that sponsor self-insured group health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) should keep in mind the upcoming July 31, 2020 deadline for paying fees that fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).  As background, the PCORI was established as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) [Read More]

IRS Releases 2021 HSA Contribution Limits and HDHP Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Limits

By Stacy Barrow - May 28, 2020

In Rev. Proc. 2020-32, the IRS released the inflation-adjusted amounts for 2020 relevant to HSAs and high deductible health plans (HDHPs).  The table below summarizes those adjustments and other applicable limits. Out-of-Pocket Limits Applicable to Non-Grandfathered Plans The ACA’s out-of-pocket limits for in-network essential health benefits have also been announced and have increased for 2021.  [Read More]

IRS Relaxes Election Change, Other Rules for Cafeteria Plans and FSAs

As the country continues to feel the impact of the COVID-19 National Emergency declared by President Trump on March 13, 2020, the IRS has provided some much-needed guidance and relief for employees.  On May 12, 2020, the IRS issued Notices 2020-29 and 2020-33, which, among other things, extend the claims period for health flexible spending [Read More]

Total Rewards in the Post COVID -19 Era

By Bobbi Kloss, BAN Director of Human Capital Management - May 4, 2020

What makes an employer an “employer of choice?” It is about an organization’s ability to not only attract quality employees but also to retain those employees as well. In Human Capital Management (HCM) terminology, this is called having a total rewards program. The total rewards concept has been around for years, but a total rewards [Read More]

Congress Passes Families First Coronavirus Response Act

On March 18, Congress passed, and President Trump signed into law, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The FFCRA is a bipartisan effort to help employers and individuals alike in managing pay, benefits, and business considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of this alert is the impact of FFCRA on employer-sponsored benefits and [Read More]

Information for Employers and Group Health Plan Sponsors on COVID-19

States and the federal government have issued (or re-issued) guidance for employers in response to the recent novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As of March 14, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported more than 2,000 cases from 49 states and Washington, DC.  Agency guidance includes the following: Internal Revenue [Read More]