News

Latest News and Updates From UBA

• Compliance Recap | March 2025
  In March, employers submitted their electronic filings to the Internal Revenue Service for the Affordable Care Act reporting requirement. Medicare Part D disclosure to CMS, certain reporting on HIPAA breaches, and MEWA Form M-1 were due in March.
• Compliance Recap | Feb. 2025
  The federal government in 2025 has is experiencing significant internal restructuring, workforce reductions, and communication restrictions across various departments. The results from the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services investigations into Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) enforcement have been shared. The IRS has eased regulations surrounding ACA reporting, Centers for […]
• Compliance Recap | Jan. 2025
  January brought guidance on the management of taxes on state paid family and medical leave, and an update on the much-watched Johnson & Johnson fiduciary lawsuit. The Department of Health and Human Services provided the 2025 Federal Poverty Levels and FAQs clarify gag clause prohibitions and No Surprises Act compliance relating to downstream contracts. The […]
• Compliance Recap | Dec. 2024
  December brought two bills easing employer ACA reporting requirements. President Biden stepped away from proposed changes to the birth control opt-out for moral objections. The pre-deductible status of telehealth in HSA plans expired, and the CAA 2024 Gag Clause Attestation submission took effect.
• Compliance Recap | Nov. 2024
  Missouri, Alaska and Nebraska joined the growing number of states requiring certain employers to provide paid leave. Beginning in 2025, these laws will impact most employees in these states, with few exceptions. Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York represent states amending their leave policies.
• Compliance Recap | Oct. 2024
  October brought the second of two Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Part D annual disclosures, in the form of Creditable Coverage Letters. The IRS released the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment information affecting employee benefit plans. We were reminded that while there are no federal requirements for time off to vote, many states mandate […]
• Compliance Recap | Sept. 2024
  September brought the due date for the Summary Annual Report, which summarizes the Form 5500 contents. Employers prepared to send out the required Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage letters to eligible participants and enrolled beneficiaries. The Departments released final rules on the MHPAEA NQTL analysis. California insurers are required to cover in-vitro fertilization for large […]
• Compliance Recap | Aug. 2024
  In August, the FTC ban on non-compete agreements was struck down by a court stating that the FTC did not have the power to implement the ban and that its application was too broad. The FDA approved new and updated COVID-19 vaccines for adults and children as part of the preventive care mandate for group […]
• Compliance Recap |  July 2024
  July was a busy month for sponsors of group health plans. The final DOL rule on overtime exemption requirements went into effect July 1. IRS Form 5500, due on July 31 for calendar year plans, applies to most public and private sector businesses providing plans to 100 or more participants. Also due by July 31 […]
• Compliance Recap |  June 2024
  June saw the ACA Preventive Care Mandate upheld, with an exception that could open it up for future challenges. There was more movement on reproduction rights and privacy, where healthcare providers are barred from disclosing sensitive information to law enforcement without patient consent. Enforcement began on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which mandates that […]