Agencies Issue Additional Guidance on the COBRA Premium Subsidy; Draft DOL Model Notices on the Extension Available
The DOL and IRS have issued updated information on the COBRA subsidy provisions, which were extended by the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act (2010 DOD Act), and originally created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
Updated Mandatory Reporting User Guide Clarifies and Eases HRA Reporting Requirements, Among Other Changes
CMS has again updated its Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Mandatory Reporting User Guide for group health plans. The revised version includes guidance on reporting for HRAs, as well as other topics of interest to "responsible reporting entities" (RREs), which provide information to CMS to identify situations in which group health plans are (or have been) primary to Medicare. Some of the major topics addressed include:
- What is an HRA for Reporting Purposes?
- What are the HRA Reporting Deadlines?
- What are the new requirements for reporting HICNs and SSNs?
Click here to see the new user guide
Health Care Reform Raises Implications for Health Savings Accounts and Other Consumer-driven Plans
Health care reform carries implications for health savings accounts (HSAs), health flexible spending arrangements (FSA) and other consumer-driven health plans, a recent assessment finds. The analysis identifies reform proposals with direct impact, such as a proposed cap on annual health FSA contributions, and reviews whether HSA-qualifying high-deductible health plans could meet proposed minimum actuarial value standards for health plans.
View full text of HSA Consulting Services' analysis
