May 2024 | Page 2 of 4 | EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG

IRS Announces 2025 Limits for Health Savings Accounts, High-Deductible Health Plans and Excepted Benefit HRAs

by Jacob Mattinson and Sarah Raaii | May 9, 2024 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced (see Revenue Procedure 2024-25) cost-of-living adjustments to the applicable dollar limits for health savings accounts (HSAs), high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and excepted benefit health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) for 2025. All of the dollar limits currently in effect for 2024 will change for 2025, with the exception of one limit. The HSA catch-up contribution for individuals ages 55 and older will not change as it is not subject to cost-of-living adjustments.

See the adjustments here.

CMS Releases FY 2025 IPPS Proposed Update

by McDermott Will & Emery | May 9, 2024 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

On April 10, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed update for fiscal year (FY) 2025, along with proposed policy and regulation changes. The proposed rule would update Medicare payment policies and quality reporting programs relevant for inpatient hospital services, and build on key agency priorities, including advancing health equity and improving the safety and quality of care.

Access full analysis.

Congress Likely to Kick the Can on COVID-Era Telehealth Policies

by Debra Curtis | May 8, 2024 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

Congressional lawmakers must soon decide to continue or end payment changes for telehealth services enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to this KFF Health News article, Congress will likely “kick the can” past the November election.

Access the article.

340B Remedy Rule and Medicare Advantage Rates: Navigating Shifting Payments

by Emily J. Cook and Emily Curran | May 7, 2024 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

On April 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies, otherwise known as the rate announcement. The rate announcement is released annually and includes updates to the methodologies used to calculate MA plan payments, as well as other payment policies that impact Part D. The CY 2025 rate announcement finalizes the policies proposed in CMS’s January 2024 advance notice.

New UK Employment Law Changes Taking Effect

by Paul McGrath and Charlotte Moorhouse | May 2, 2024 | Employee Benefits, Employment

This spring sees the introduction of a number of important changes to employment laws in the United Kingdom. These include:

Expansion of the existing right to request flexible working
New rules for the calculation of holiday and holiday pay entitlement for irregular hour workers and part-year workers
A new unpaid leave right for carers
Greater flexibility in respect of paternity leave
Enhanced redundancy protection for pregnant employees and employees taking certain family leave
Increases in minimum wage limits
Increases in the value of certain potential tribunal awards and other statutory payment entitlements
Increases in the value of potential injury to feeling awards in discrimination cases

Read about the changes here.

Indiana Enacts New Law Requiring Notice of Healthcare Transactions

by Callee Donovan and Sarah Kitchell | May 1, 2024 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

On March 13, 2024, Indiana enacted Senate Bill No. 9, which establishes that the Office of the Indiana Attorney General must receive prior written notice of certain transactions involving Indiana healthcare entities. This new law goes into effect July 1, 2024, and has a more expansive reach than many of its peer transaction notice laws. It expressly identifies private equity firms as qualifying entities, applies to a broad scope of transactions and sets a lower threshold for reportable transactions than other states at $10 million. Indiana has not yet promulgated regulations, rules or guidance related to the law.

Parties interested in Indiana’s healthcare landscape should closely monitor developments, as the $10 million threshold and broad definition of “health care entities” is likely to capture healthcare transactions that previously would not have been subject to review.