On April 29, 2022, the IRS released Revenue Procedure 2022-24 to provide the inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs) for 2023. The IRS is required to publish these limits by June 1 of each year.

These limits include:

• The maximum HSA contribution limit;
• The minimum deductible amount for HDHPs; and
• The maximum out-of-pocket expense limit for HDHPs.

Highlights

• Each year, the IRS announces inflation-adjusted limits for HSAs and HDHPs.
• By law, the IRS is required to announce these limits by June 1 of each year.
• The adjusted contribution limits for HSAs take effect as of Jan. 1, 2023.
• The adjusted HDHP cost-sharing limits take effect for the plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2023.

Important Dates

• January 1, 2023
  • The new contribution limits for HSAs become effective.
• 2023 Plan Years
  • The HDHP cost-sharing limits for 2023 apply for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2023.

Click here to learn more and download the latest Compliance Bulletin

On Feb. 4, 2022, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) jointly issued FAQs (FAQs Part 52) regarding coverage of over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests.

• The new FAQs amend the prior guidance on OTC COVID-19 tests to ensure that plans and issuers have significant flexibility in how they provide access to those tests.
• The Departments provide examples of steps that plans and issuers can take to prevent and address fraud and abuse.
• The cost of OTC COVID-19 tests can be reimbursed by a health FSA or health savings account (HSA), but not if the cost is paid for or reimbursed by another health plan.

Click here to learn more and download the latest Compliance Bulletin

On Nov. 22, 2021, the IRS released a proposed rule that would extend the annual furnishing deadlines for Sections 6055 and 6056 reporting under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This proposed rule would essentially make permanent the furnishing deadline extension that has been provided for each prior year of ACA reporting. Specifically, the proposed rule would:

• Extend the due date for furnishing statements to individuals under Sections 6055 and 6056 by 30 days from Jan. 31 each year; and
• Provide additional penalty relief related to furnishing statements to individuals under Section 6055 for every year in which the individual mandate penalty is zero. Under this relief, employers would generally only have to provide Form 1095-B to covered individuals upon request.

Click here to learn more and download the latest Compliance Bulletin

On Nov. 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a federal emergency temporary standard (ETS) to address the grave danger of COVID-19 infection in the workplace. Affected employers will be required to comply with most provisions of the ETS by Dec. 5, 2021, and with its testing requirements by Jan. 4, 2022. Affected employers include private employers with 100 or more employees (firmwide or companywide count).

The ETS provides specific guidance to help employers determine how many employees they have for the purpose of complying with the vaccination and testing standard. This Compliance Bulletin provides an overview of specific guidance offered for:

• Part-time employees;
• Independent contractors or subcontractors;
• Staffing agencies;
• Temporary and seasonal employees;
• Multiemployer worksites; and
• Outdoor employees.

Click here to learn more and download the latest Compliance Bulletin

On Nov. 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a federal emergency temporary standard (ETS) to address the grave danger of COVID-19 infection in the workplace. Affected employers will be required to comply with most provisions of the ETS by Dec. 6, 2021, and with its testing requirements by Jan. 4, 2022. Affected employers include private employers with 100 or more employees (firmwide or companywide count).

The ETS requires each covered employer to establish and implement a written mandatory vaccination policy unless the employer adopts an alternative policy requiring COVID-19 testing and face coverings for unvaccinated employees. To meet the definition of “mandatory vaccination policy,” the policy must require vaccination of all employees, including all new employees as soon as practicable, other than those employees for whom:

Click here to learn more and download the latest Compliance Bulletin

On Nov. 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a federal emergency temporary standard (ETS) to address the grave danger of COVID-19 infection in the workplace. Affected employers will be required to comply with most provisions of the ETS by Dec. 6, 2021, and with its testing requirements by Jan. 4, 2022. Affected employers include private employers with 100 or more employees (firm- or company-wide count).
On Nov. 6, 2021, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay effectively blocking enforcement of the ETS until a final decision is made.

The ETS creates new employer obligations with respect to employees who are not fully vaccinated, including a requirement to ensure unvaccinated employees are tested for COVID-19. While OSHA’s stated preference is for employers to implement written mandatory vaccination policies, the ETS also regulates procedures to protect workers who remain unvaccinated—regular testing, use of face coverings and removal of infected employees from the workplace.

Click here to learn more and download the latest Compliance Bulletin

On Oct. 25, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued additional answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about how employers should comply with Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act (Title VII), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal fair employment laws while also observing all applicable emergency workplace safety guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.

Title VII/ADA Rules Do Not Prevent Safety Measures
Employers must follow all applicable rules under federal fair employment laws while also observing emergency guidelines issued by federal, state and local health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here to learn more and download the latest Compliance Bulletin

Notice 2021-58 clarifies that the disregarded periods to elect COBRA coverage and make initial and subsequent COBRA premium payments generally run concurrently. The guidance provides the following rules to illustrate the applicable time frames:

• If an individual elected COBRA coverage within the initial 60-day COBRA election time frame will have one year and 45 days after the date of the election to make their initial COBRA premium payment.

• If an individual elected COBRA coverage outside of the initial 60- day COBRA election time frame, they generally will have one year and 105 days after the date the COBRA notice was provided to make the initial COBRA premium payment (subject to transition relief).

Click here to learn more and download the latest Compliance Bulletin