The Washington Report
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November 4, 2020
Note to subscribers: Due to the current environment, information is changing at a rapid rate. While we do our best to provide timely updates, it is possible that the information shared in the newsletter may change or be revised after our publication deadline. Stay healthy and safe! ~The Washington Report team
Health
Departments Release Final Rule on Price Transparency Initiative
On October 29, 2020, the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury (the Departments) released a final rule on health care price transparency. The rule requires most private health plans, including group health plans and individual health insurance market plans, to disclose pricing and cost-sharing information in response to the President’s June 2019 Executive Order on price and quality transparency. Beginning January 1, 2023, the rule will require health plans to offer an online shopping tool that will allow consumers to see the negotiated rate between their provider and their plan, as well as a personalized estimate of their out-of-pocket cost for 500 of the most “shoppable items and services.” Effective January 1, 2024, these shopping tools will be required to show the costs for the remaining procedures, drugs, durable medical equipment, and any other item or service they may need. Additionally, by January 1, 2022, the rule will require plans to make publicly available standardized and regularly updated data files.
The final rule is temporarily available here.
(Federal Register Disclaimer: This HHS-approved document will be submitted to the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) for publication and has not yet been placed on public display or published in the Federal Register. The document may vary slightly from the published document if minor editorial changes have been made during the OFR review process. The document published in the Federal Register is the official HHS-approved document.)
The Fact Sheet is available here.
The news release is available here.
The June 2019 Executive Order is available here.
Other HR/Employment
EEOC Publishes Final Rule for Issuing Policy Guidance
On October 30, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published a final rule that establishes procedural regulations for the agency’s issuance of guidance. The final rule provides clear procedures that will make guidance documents readily available to the public, ensure that guidance is treated as non-binding and does not overstep legal authority, require a notice and public comment period for significant guidance, and establish a public petition process for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of guidance. The final rule becomes effective December 2, 2020.
The news release is available here.
The final rule is available here.
Aon Publications
IRS Releases 2021 Contribution Limits for Benefit Plans and Final Instructions for Forms 1094-C and 1095-C
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released the 2021 contribution limits for certain health and welfare programs, along with final instructions for the 2020 Forms 1094-C and 1095-C
The Aon bulletin is available here.