McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

What does December 31, 2024, mean to you? Post-2024 election? Our answer: December 31, 2024, is when we will go over a “telehealth cliff” if Congress fails to act before that date, directly impacting care and access for Medicare beneficiaries. New Year’s Eve? Too far away to know? What is this telehealth cliff?

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

APRIL 24, 2024

This chart displays health-related regulations that may be issued this year, organized by federal agency and date of potential release. Access the […] The post 2024 Chart of Healthcare Regulations appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

MAY 23, 2024

The New York State fiscal year 2024 – 2025 budget institutes a new tax on health plans, including insurers and managed care organizations. This tax has been garnering attention for its promise to yield $4 billion for New York State.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

AUGUST 3, 2023

Following in the footsteps of Washington State’s My Health My Data Act, the governors of Nevada and Connecticut recently approved Nevada SB 370 and Connecticut SB 3. These bills impose a number of new requirements on the processing of consumer health data.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

JANUARY 23, 2024

On January 2, 2024, McDermott filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) and the United States Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) in United Behavioral Health v. 23-586, in the US Supreme Court.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

AUGUST 8, 2022

The US House of Representatives approved a bipartisan bill that would extend Medicare telehealth flexibilities through the end of 2024; immediate US Senate action on the bill is unlikely, however. The post US House Passes Telehealth Extension Through 2024 appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

MAY 14, 2024

On March 18, 2024, the US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued an update to its December 1, 2022, bulletin titled “Use of Online Tracking Technologies by HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associates.”

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

JUNE 13, 2024

May 11, 2024, marked one year since the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), and not much has changed in Medicare telehealth policy. We are still operating under temporary waivers and flexibilities and, as a result, many pandemic-era virtual care policies are facing a cliff on December 31, 2024.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

AUGUST 8, 2024

The Biden administration recently released its Spring 2024 Unified Agenda (a few months late), which lists all the regulations that the administration plans to issue by the end of the year and beyond.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2023 (Public Law 117-328), extended certain key virtual care flexibilities instituted during the COVID-19 public health emergency through December 31, 2024. This includes the telehealth safe harbor for health savings account-eligible high deductible health plans.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

MARCH 28, 2024

On January 11, 2024, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published its new final rule governing federal healthcare conscience protection statutes.

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Proskauer's Employee Benefits & Executive Compensa

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

The revised versions of these documents clarify that they apply not just to pension plans, but to health and welfare plans as well. The DOL recently issued revised versions of the original three documents in its Compliance Assistance Release No.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

OCTOBER 25, 2023

The US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have further extended flexibilities that allow providers to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine without first performing an in-person visit. The extension runs through December 31, 2024. Read more here. Read more here.

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Snell & Wilmer Benefits

MAY 8, 2024

On April 26, 2024, the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (“HHS”) published a final rule to amend the HIPAA Privacy Rules to support reproductive health care privacy (the “Reproductive Health Care Rules”).

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Higginbotham

FEBRUARY 19, 2024

29, 2024 for Calendar Year Plans Each year, group health plan sponsors are required to complete an online disclosure form with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicating whether the plan’s prescription drug coverage is creditable or non-creditable. 29, 2024 (since 2024 is a leap year).

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

MAY 1, 2024

On March 13, 2024, Indiana enacted Senate Bill No. 9, which establishes that the Office of the Indiana Attorney General must receive prior written notice of certain transactions involving Indiana healthcare entities.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

MAY 29, 2024

On April 15, 2024, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced the establishment of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Center for Clinical Trial Innovation (C3TI).

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

MAY 28, 2024

On April 22, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule that will require long-term care facilities (LTCFs) to satisfy minimum nurse staffing standards with the goal of addressing patient quality of care and safety concerns.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

MAY 7, 2024

On April 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies, otherwise known as the rate announcement.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

APRIL 25, 2024

On February 6, 2024, the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a letter to all Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations and Medicare-Medicaid plans. Among the FAQs […] The post CMS Issues Guidance on Usage of AI in Making Coverage Determinations appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

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Proskauer's Employee Benefits & Executive Compensa

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

On November 9th, the IRS announced additional inflation adjustments for 2024, including to the annual contribution and carryover limits for healthcare flexible spending accounts and the monthly limit for qualified transportation fringe benefits. The new limits are set forth below.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

DECEMBER 26, 2023

On November 2, 2023, CMS released the calendar year 2024 final rule for services reimbursed under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. In […] The post Remote Monitoring and Digital Therapies: CMS Updates Coverage and Payment Policies appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

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Snell & Wilmer Benefits

JANUARY 24, 2023

If you sponsor a high deductible health plan (“HDHP”) and have been tracking telehealth relief, your head may be spinning and rightfully so! There have been various laws and guidance impacting HDHPs and telehealth since 2020 and most recently, new legislation extended relief for 2023 and 2024 plan years.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

MAY 9, 2024

On April 10, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed update for fiscal year (FY) 2025, along with proposed policy and regulation changes.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a proposed rule regarding Contract Year 2024 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

MARCH 7, 2024

On January 9, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the New York State (NY) 1115 Medicaid waiver “Medicaid Redesign Team” (MRT).

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

OCTOBER 3, 2023

If enacted, the proposed regulations would create significant requirements for PBMs and would require prompt compliance by January 1, 2024. Comments on the proposed regulations are due October 16, […] The post New York Proposes Regulations Expanding State’s Ability to Regulate PBMs appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

MARCH 21, 2024

On January 31, 2024, the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year (CY) 2025 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and D Payment Policies. CMS also released a press release and fact sheet.

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InterWest Insurance Services

DECEMBER 20, 2023

WHEN: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM JOIN US: InterWest is a proud sponsor of Summit Employee Benefits Online education. In partnership, we are offering access to the upcoming complimentary webinar.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

JANUARY 9, 2025

Many countries finalized new regulations and released new guidance in 2024 that will impact global equity plans. This client alert highlights key updates from Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and other jurisdictions, and recommends steps companies should take to address them. Access the article.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

On September 9, 2024, the US Departments of Health and Human Services , Labor, and the Treasury finalized a rule related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. This rule introduces significant updates to mental health and substance use disorder benefits, ensuring parity with medical and surgical benefits.

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Proskauer's Employee Benefits & Executive Compensa

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Departments of Labor and Treasury issued a Joint Notice requiring the extension of certain benefit plan deadlines for individuals affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and Tropical Storm Helene. [1] 1] The deadline extensions echo relief issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, but apply to a more limited group of individuals.

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Snell & Wilmer Benefits

JANUARY 24, 2023

If you sponsor a high deductible health plan (“HDHP”) and have been tracking telehealth relief, your head may be spinning and rightfully so! There have been various laws and guidance impacting HDHPs and telehealth since 2020 and most recently, new legislation extended relief for 2023 and 2024 plan years.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

JULY 31, 2024

The McDermott+ Check-Up features updates on healthcare legislative and regulatory activities that could impact health insurers, group health plan sponsors, healthcare providers and others in the health benefits industry.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

AUGUST 1, 2024

In this “Trending in Telehealth” installment, Amanda Enyeart and Jay Hyun Lee of McDermott’s Healthcare Group highlight a new Pennsylvania law that requires health insurance coverage for telehealth and in-home program services for pregnant and postpartum women. Read more here.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

AUGUST 27, 2024

In a consequential decision for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-regulated entities, on June 20, 2024, the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled that the US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights exceeded its authority in certain respects in sub-regulatory guidance.

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McDermott Will & Emery Employee Benefits

JULY 30, 2024

On July 1, 2024, the US Department of Labor (DOL) submitted final regulations to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) as most recently amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA).

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