Proposed Changes to the HIPAA Security Rule

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On January 6, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to make changes to the Security Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In response to the growing number of significant cybersecurity attacks and persistent non-compliance by HIPAA-regulated entities with the current Security Rule, these changes would strengthen the required protections and security protocols for electronic protected health information (ePHI) that HIPAA-regulated entities must implement. The proposed updates to the Security Rule requirements loosely mirror those found in the DOL’s Cybersecurity Program Best Practices (not a requirement itself, but a standard for ERISA plans). More information can be found in the HHS Fact Sheet for the NPRM.

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ACA Employer Reporting Relief Issued, Additional Guidance Needed

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On December 23, 2024, President Biden signed the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act and the Employer Reporting Improvement Act into law, both of which include components that seek to ease certain Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements for employers.  

The Paperwork Burden Reduction Act 

The Paperwork Burden Reduction Act amends the ACA to provide that employers are no longer required by default to deliver Forms 1095-C/1095-B to recipients if a series of criteria are satisfied. Instead, employers will be in compliance with the ACA’s furnishing requirement as long as they: 

  1. Provide “clear, conspicuous, and accessible notice” per forthcoming instructions from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that recipients may request a copy of their Form 1095; and
  2. Upon receipt of request for a Form 1095, provide the statement to the recipient by the latter of January 31 of the year following the calendar year for which the return was generated (e.g., January 31, 2025 for 2024 Forms 1095-C) or 30 days after the request is received. Read more

2024-2025 PCORI Fee Released

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The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee established by the Affordable Care Act helps fund research to evaluate and compare health outcomes, clinical effectiveness, risks, and benefits of medical treatment and services. The fee is currently in place through 2029. In Notice 2024-83, the IRS announced that the PCORI fee for plan years ending between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, is $3.47. This is an increase from the $3.22 payment for policy or plan years that ended between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024.  

Employers and plan sponsors with self-funded plans are typically responsible for submitting IRS Form 720 and paying the PCORI fee by July 31 of the calendar year immediately following the last day of the plan year, meaning that payments for plan years that end in 2024 will be due in July of 2025. 

PCORI fees for self-funded plans are assessed on all covered lives, not just on employees. Plan sponsors can use one of three methods to calculate the average number of covered lives for the fee: the actual count method, the snapshot method, and the Form 5500 method. Many fully insured employers do not need to take any action, as the insurer will submit the payment on their behalf. However, remember that fully insured employers with self-funded HRAs must pay the fee for each employee covered under the account. 

 

2024 PCORI Filing Fee Calendar 

Plan or Policy Year 

PCORI Filing Fee 

February 2023 – January 2024 

$3.22 

March 2023 – February 2024 

$3.22 

April 2023 – March 2024 

$3.22 

May 2023 – April 2024 

$3.22 

June 2023 – May 2024 

$3.22 

July 2023 – June 2024 

$3.22 

August 2023 – July 2024 

$3.22 

September 2023 – August 2024 

$3.22 

October 2023 – September 2024 

$3.22 

November 2023 – October 2024 

$3.47 

December 2023 – November 2024 

$3.47 

January 2024 – December 2024 

$3.47 

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The Workday Just Got Smarter: The Power of Continuous Learning

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Learning doesn’t stop when we finish school; it’s a lifelong process that fuels both personal and professional success. Incorporating learning into your daily work routine can enhance your confidence, improve your performance, and keep you ahead in your career.

While continuous learning may sound daunting, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or like another task on your to-do list. When integrated into your and your employees’ daily routine, it can fuel personal growth and success in small, manageable steps. Read more

10 Employee Benefits Trends to Watch in 2025

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The landscape of employee benefits is evolving, shaped by workforce demographics, technological advancements, and changing priorities. Companies must keep up with benefits trends to stay competitive in employee hiring and retention. Employee benefits trends for 2025 are about meeting and exceeding expectations by creating thoughtful, personalized, and impactful benefits packages.   

Here’s a look at the key trends defining employee benefits in 2025.  Read more