Benefits Newsletter: 7/23/21
With Employee Benefits & HR topics regularly in the news, it’s difficult to stay up to date. Our weekly newsletter will help you stay current. Check out this week's edition.
With Employee Benefits & HR topics regularly in the news, it’s difficult to stay up to date. Our weekly newsletter will help you stay current. Check out this week's edition.
On July 1, 2021, the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services (the Departments) released Part One of the regulations addressing the highly anticipated No Surprises Act (the Act), which was introduced in December 2020 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). These interim final rules of the Act are just the first in a series of guidance that can be expected this year. However, according to the Departments, the set of regulations for the transparency requirements under the Act might be delayed until 2022.
This Know Your Benefits article explains to employees how the White House is tackling the issue of surprise medical billing.
This month's Benefits and Me discusses the HIPAA Privacy Rule, commuter benefits and ways to stretch your health care dollars.
This month's Benefits Breakdown newsletter discusses how cybercrime can influence benefits plans and provides tips for managing health-related productivity costs.
Internal Revenue Code (the Code) Sec. 132(f) allows for the tax-free provision of certain transportation fringe benefits from employers to their active employees. This benefit, known as a qualified transportation plan or commuter benefit plan, has steadily increased in popularity due in part to some state and local laws that mandate an employer offering. Unlike benefits offered under a group health plan, transportation plans are typically much easier for an employer to sponsor and administer. These benefits are not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and its related provisions, and therefore come with fewer compliance requirements. Importantly, though, the Code does impose critical guidelines that employers must follow when implementing a qualified transportation plan.