New and Updated in Health and Welfare Plans (Q4 2020) | Practical Law
New from Practical Law Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation! A collection of the top Health and Welfare Plan resources we published or significantly updated during Q4 2020.
Law stated as of 04 Jan 2021 • USA (National/Federal)
New from Practical Law Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation! A collection of the top Health and Welfare Plan resources we published or significantly updated during Q4 2020.
At Practical Law, we are constantly expanding and updating our Health and Welfare Plan resources to reflect the latest developments in employee benefits law. The following list reflects some of the most important Health and Welfare Plan resources we've published or substantially revised during Q4 2020, including in response to the US outbreak of COVID-19, the disease that results from SARS-CoV-2:
Content Requirements for Health Plan Coverage Transparency Cost Disclosures Under the ACA Checklist. This entirely new checklist addresses group health plan coverage transparency information that health plans and health insurers must disclose to plan participants and beneficiaries, using an internet-based self-service tool or in paper form (if requested). The required coverage transparency disclosures reflect an ACA requirement that was enacted in 2010 and implemented in tri-agency final regulations issued in November 2020. (For more information, see Group Health Plans Toolkit.)
Content Requirements for Health Plan Public Disclosures of Costs Under the ACA. This newly published practice note summarizes group health plan cost-related information that plans and health insurers must disclose to the public in machine-readable files (MRFs) that are updated each month. The cost transparency disclosures reflect an ACA requirement that was implemented in tri-agency final regulations issued in November 2020. Under the final regulations, the public disclosures must address negotiated rates for covered items and services between the plan or insurer and in-network health providers.
Cost-Sharing Restrictions Under the ACA. This new practice note addresses cost-sharing limits for health plans under the ACA, which were required beginning in 2014. HHS updates these cost-sharing limits each year to reflect inflation.
COVID-19 Compliance for Health and Welfare Plans. This resource is updated to reflect ongoing developments concerning health plans and the COVID-19 pandemic, including HHS's renewal of its declaration—effective October 23, 2020—of a nationwide public health emergency due to COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing for Group Health Plans. This new practice note addresses federal regulations that implement group health plan coverage requirements for COVID-19 vaccines. The implementing regulations address how and when group health plans and health insurers must provide coverage for COVID-19 vaccines. The regulations also amended existing guidance involving preventive health services to shorten the timeframes under which group health plans and health insurers must cover "qualifying coronavirus preventive services" (including recommended COVID-19 immunizations) without cost-sharing.
Fringe Benefits: Entertainment Expenses and Meals. This entirely new practice note addresses the tax treatment of entertainment expenses and business-related meals under the Internal Revenue Code's rules governing fringe benefits. This resource addresses significant changes affecting the taxation of entertainment expenses and meals under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and related IRS implementing guidance.
Tuition Reimbursement Policy. This standard document is updated to reflect a CARES Act provision involving student loans that is relevant to the tuition reimbursement context. The provision was extended under year-end COVID-19/stimulus legislation enacted in December 2020 (discussed below).