On April 27, 2012 the IRS release Rev.Proc. 2012-26 that provides for the 2013 inflation adjusted amounts for health savings accounts (HSAs) as determined under IRC 223. The 2013 amounts are summarized below: Maximum Annual Contribution Limits – Single $3,250 Family $6,450 Catch-up Contribution Limit – $1,000 Minimum Annual Deductible – Single $1,250 Family $2,500 [...]

The Tax Anti-Injunction Act, enacted in 1867, prohibits a law suit from being brought to bear against any tax prior to a prospective plaintiff having incurred said tax. So why is a 145 year old law potentially so important today? Simple the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services v. [...]

Facing growing criticism President Obama announced on Friday, February 10th an amended policy on the birth control mandate. Under the new announced policy, religious employers (and affiliated institutions) will not be required to offer contraception and will not have to refer their employees to places that provide it. Instead, the employer’s insurance company must provide birth [...]

On February 9, 2012 the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health & Human Services released the final regulations under Affordable Care Act (ACA) that require health insurers and group health plans to provide information about health plan benefits and coverage to those with private health coverage. According to regulators these rules will ensure consumers have [...]

On Wednesday evening members of the House voted 267-159 to repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program. 28 Democrats joined Republicans in support of repealing the voluntary long-term healthcare program established in the 2010 health reform law. The CLASS Act establishes a national, voluntary long-term care program. The program was to go [...]

St. Louis University Hospital (SLU) and Des Peres Hospital have reached  a new four-year agreement that extends from January 1, 2012 through February 2016 with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri & HealthLink. News releases were posted this afternoon to both SLU’s and Des Peres websites followed by article on stltoday.com. This agreement comes after [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

A new Michigan law that imposes a 1% medical claims assessment on “Carriers,” Third Party Administrators (TPAs) and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) is facing a court challenge. The Self-Insurance Institute of America, Inc. (SIIA) announced that it had filed a complaint in Federal Court requesting a declaration that the Health Insurance Claims Assessment Act is [...]