It’s essential for you to stay current with the most recent insurance information for your business. We have summarized the most critical facts and guidelines for March 2023 that your enterprise should be cognizant of to remain in compliance.
Proposed Revisions to Contraceptive Coverage Rules
The Biden Administration is proposing revisions to the existing preventive care coverage requirements for contraceptives. After more than ten years since its inception and a myriad of costly lawsuits attempting to create an appropriate religious exemption; the recent proposal calls for the demise of the moral exemption while keeping a parallel religious exemption in place. The greatest impact from this iteration is women who are covered by plans with a religious exemption pursuing preventative contraceptive coverage. For sponsors who claim religious exemptions, the newest revisions would not incur any changes. Review the latest report for updates on these proposed revisions.
Air Ambulance Reporting Deadlines
The Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury have recently proposed a rule that would require health insurers and group health plans to report air ambulance services. As of March 31, 2023, this rule will require air ambulance reporting for 2022. Due to the disclosure requirements in the No Surprises Act, many employers will not have access to the data necessary for reporting and need the assistance of their insurance carriers and/or third party administrators for this information. Although the proposed rule has not been ratified yet, employers should be proactive and begin working with their insurance carrier or their third party administrator to prepare for these new obligations.
COVID Emergency Periods to End
As of May 11, 2023 the Biden Administration has declared an end to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. As the Public Health Emergency and National Emergency will be dissolved by this declaration, many employee benefit plans will be impacted and will prompt many employers to find resolutions to their current health and welfare programs. With the forthcoming changes, employers should become familiar with them and prepare to make the necessary changes for the next plan year. Currently there has been little direction in regards to the Outbreak Period slated for July 10, 2023, but employers should prepare for upcoming COBRA implications and special requests for those individuals who may lose their eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Learn more about what the end of the Public Health Emergency and National Emergency will mean for you.
Independence Blue Cross Additional MLR Rebates for 2020
Additional MLR rebates will be issued by Independence Blue Cross to individual customers for a portion of their health insurance premiums from 2020. The medical loss ratio calculation was found to be incorrect, following a further explanation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Qualified customers will receive a rebate check in the mail. Qualified customer include the following:
- QCC individual subscribers and small and large group fully insured customers
- Keystone Health Plan East (KHPE) large group fully insured customers
- AmeriHealth PA large group fully insured customers
This article contains more information about the Independence Blue Cross MLR rebates. If you have any questions, or believe to be an impacted party, please visit cms.gov to read about all MLR requirements and other useful information. For a quick guide on how to handle your MLR rebate check, watch Precision Benefit Group’s video on “How to Handle Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Rebate Checks”.
How to Document New Hires
Did you know that every employee must have their identity and eligibility to work in the United States verified by the employer at the time of hiring? To accomplish this, the employee needs to complete an I-9 form. This must be completed within the first 3 days of employment. This form allows both employers and employees to attest to their eligibility to work in the country legally. The I-9 form can be accessed here and downloaded for your reference. For additional information on the I-9 form please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
Medicare Part D CMS Notification
Reminder to report information to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the status of prescription drug coverage. Download the PDF for more info!
Rob is an employee benefits expert with over 25 years of experience. He is the founder and principal of Precision Benefits Group, a leading provider of corporate benefits plans. He is a member of the Philadelphia Business Journal Leadership Trust and regularly contributes to the publication.