Posts by Tina Bull

Author Blog Post Archive

  1. OTC Covid Rapid Tests Now Covered by Health Insurance (Benefit Minute)

    The Departments of Labor, HHS and Treasury have issued FAQs that address insurance and group health plan coverage that is required under the FFCRA and the CARES Act for OTC Covid rapid tests. OTC Covid rapid tests are those that can be self-administered and self-read at home without the involvement of a health care provider. […]

  2. Benefit Plan Provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act (Benefit Minute)

    On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into law.  The $1.9 trillion stimulus law includes several welfare and fringe benefit plan provisions.  The information outlined below is subject to clarification as the government agencies issue guidance to implement ARPA.

  3. Health Plan Cost Transparency Provisions in the CAA (Benefit Minute)

    Price transparency in health care has been a topic of interest for several years.  The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the CAA) continued this trend by adding numerous provisions that impact cost transparency for all group health plans.  Some of these provisions are found in the No Surprises Act while others are found in a separate title […]

  4. No Surprises Act Will Limit Balance Billing for Certain Medical Care (Benefit Minute)

    The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 includes the No Surprises Act (the Act), which is intended to protect patients from the financial impact of unexpected balance billing in cases where they have little or no control over who provides their care. Instead, the Act shifts responsibility for these expenses to providers and payers (insurers and self-insured health […]

  5. Additional COVID Relief in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Benefit Minute)

    On December 27th, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the Act) into law.  The Act funds the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year and provides additional COVID relief.  This Benefit Minute provides an overview of benefit and payroll provisions in the Act.

  6. Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on Affordable Care Act (Benefit Minute)

    On November 10, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the ongoing case of Texas v. California. The litigation centers on whether the individual mandate imposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains constitutional after elimination of the related tax penalty, and what impact finding it unconstitutional would have on the remainder of the ACA.

  7. Notice & Disclosure Requirements for Welfare Benefit Plans (Benefit Minute)

    Employers that sponsor welfare benefit plans must provide a wide range of notices and disclosures to employees and plan participants.  These notices are required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  This Benefit Minute […]

  8. IRS Extends Deadline to Provide Forms 1095-B and 1095-C (Benefit Alert)

    On October 2, 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020-76 which provides ACA reporting relief similar to what has been granted in prior years. There are strong indications in the Notice that this will be the last year the relief is given. The IRS had previously requested comments on the relief for furnishing the forms to […]

  9. Legislative and Regulatory Updates (Benefit Minute)

    This issue of the Benefit Minute provides a recap of some recent state and federal legislative and regulatory activity.