Friday, January 20th, 2012 HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that church-affiliated institutions will only get one additional year to meet a new rule to cover birth control free of charge. In the announcement HHS was quick to indicated that it did not apply to houses of worship such as churches, synagogues, mosques and other places [...]

The House Ways and Means Committee has voted to repeal PPACA’s controversial CLASS Act 24-14,  setting up a full vote of the House in February. The CLASS Act (Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act) establishes a national, voluntary long-term care program. The program was expected to go into effect during 2012; however, in October [...]

Beginning January 1, 2013, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will limit salary reduction contributions under a health care flexible spending account (FSA) during the taxable year to a maximum of $2,500. This new requirement applies to all health care FSA plans whose taxable years begin after December 31, 2012, even plans grandfathered under [...]

On December 23, 2011, The National Labor Relations Board issued a press release announcing its decision to postpone the implementation date for the new notice-posting rule, again, at the request of the federal court in Washington, DC.  The implementation date is now April 30, 2012! As you may already know, most private sector employers will [...]

It’s that time of year!  Medicare Part B and D enrollees should have received notice in early December of changes to their premiums.  Changes are effective 01/01/12 and will show on an enrollees next Social Security check, or premium invoice.  These premiums can represent a significant cost for retirees and it’s important to always add [...]

The IRS has issued Notice 2012-9 to provide additional guidance on informational reporting of employer-sponored health coverage on Form W-2. This notice restates and amends the interim guidance on information reporting to employees initially provided in Notice 2011-28, 2011-16 I.R.B. 656. This informational reporting is required under § 6051(a)(14) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), enacted [...]

The U.S. Department of Labor has released a new fact sheet on FMLA and retaliation. This sheet provides general information concerning the Family and Medical Leave Act’s (FMLA) prohibition on retaliation against an individual for exercising his or her rights or participating in matters protected under the FMLA.