CAA #4: A Prohibition on Gag Clauses
The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) prohibits health plans from entering into contracts that would restrict the plan from: Offering provider-specific cost or quality of care […]
CAA #3: Strengthening Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity Rules
The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) included provisions designed to strengthen the rules for group health plans to impose Nonquantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs) on coverage for […]
Advance Explanation of Benefits: the 411
What is it? An Advance Explanation of Benefits (AEOB) starts with the obligation of a health care provider to furnish a patient with an advance […]
CAA #2: Removing the Element of Surprise: the Consolidated Appropriations Act’s Guidelines for Group Health Plans
CAA NO SURPRISES BLOG The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) contained many provisions that directly affect employer sponsored group health plans. In this blog, […]
401(k) Plans: They’re Back! Required Minimum Distributions Resume for 2021
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (“CARES Act”) contained a number of provisions directly relating to 401(k) retirement plans. (See our […]
New Law Encourages Compliance with Recognized Security Practice
The penalties for failing to observe HIPAA’s security rules can be severe. Recent legislation may cushion the impact of those penalties for covered entities making […]
New Guidance for 401(k) Plans on Missing Participants
On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued official guidance on locating missing participants in retirement plans, including 401(k) plans. The […]
Group Health Plans Required to Cover Cost of HIV-Preventive Drug, Truvada
Effective January 1, 2021, and with the exception of ACA-compliant Grandfathered Plans, most group health plans and insurance issuers must now cover the full cost […]
2021 Penalty Amounts for 401(k) Plans
On January 14, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) published its annual announcement of civil monetary penalties for various employee benefits-related violations under ERISA, […]