Zywave Content

  • Benefits Breakdown July 2024

    Benefits Breakdown July 2024

    Report: Health Care Costs Are 254% Higher for Privately Insured Patients Than Those With Medicare A new RAND report revealed that in 2022, private insurers paid hospitals an average of 254% more than what Medicare would have paid for the same services, a jump from 224% in 2020. The study found that 2022 prices for…

  • Benefits Buzz May 2024

    Benefits Buzz May 2024

    Prescription Drug Report Is Due by June 1, 2024 Group health plans must annually submit detailed information on prescription drug and health care spending to the federal government. This reporting is referred to as the “prescription drug data collection,” or the “RxDC report.” The next RxDC report is due by Saturday, June 1, 2024, covering…

  • Benefits Buzz April 2024

    Benefits Buzz April 2024

    DOL Releases ERISA Enforcement Results for 2023 The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released the results of its Employee Benefits Security Administration’s (EBSA) enforcement actions during fiscal year (FY) 2023. The DOL has broad authority to investigate or audit an employee benefit plan’s compliance with ERISA. EBSA handles audits of employee benefit plans for…

  • Benefits Buzz February 2024

    Benefits Buzz February 2024

    ACA Reporting Deadlines Are Approaching Employers subject to Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 or 6056 should prepare to comply with upcoming reporting deadlines. For the 2023 calendar year, covered employers must: Furnish statements to individuals by March 1, 2024 (an alternative method of furnishing statements to covered individuals is…

  • Benefits Buzz December 2023

    Benefits Buzz December 2023

    IRS Announces Employee Benefit Plan Limits for 2024 Many employee benefits are subject to annual dollar limits that are updated for inflation before the beginning of each calendar year. Most of these annual dollar limits will increase in 2024. Note that some benefit limits are not adjusted for inflation, such as the contribution limit for…

  • Benefits Buzz November 2023

    Benefits Buzz November 2023

    Final Forms and Instructions for 2023 ACA Reporting Released The IRS has released final 2023 forms and instructions for reporting under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 and 6056: 2023 Forms 1094-B and 1095-B (and instructions) will be used by providers of minimum essential coverage, including self-insured plan sponsors that are not applicable large employers (ALEs),…

  • Benefits Buzz August 2023

    Benefits Buzz August 2023

    Draft Forms for 2023 ACA Reporting Released The IRS has released draft 2023 forms for reporting under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 and 6056. Draft instructions for these forms have not yet been released. 2023 draft Forms 1094-B and 1095-B are drafts of the forms used by providers of minimum essential coverage, including self-insured plan…

  • Benefits Breakdown July 2023

    Benefits Breakdown July 2023

    Managing Costs Associated With Cell and Gene Therapy Cell and gene therapy (CGT) is a treatment that modifies a patient’s genetic code to treat or cure specific diseases. These treatments have the potential to enhance patient care and outcomes, but they come at a very high cost. While there’s an urgency to bring CGT to…

  • Benefits Buzz: April 2023

    Benefits Buzz: April 2023

    Gag Clause Attestations Are Due by Dec. 31, 2023 On Feb. 23, 2023, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury (Departments) issued FAQs on the prohibition of gag clauses under the transparency provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). These FAQs require health plans and health insurance issuers to submit…