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Recent Executive Order

President Trump issued an executive order last week directing the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), the Department of the Treasury (IRS), and the Department of Labor (DOL) to take various actions related to health care over the next two to six months.

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Final Rules – Two New HRA Options for 2020

The Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services (the Departments) have jointly released the final expanded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) regulations.

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Retain Employees with Student Loan Reimbursement

For the past six months, Washington State has been experiencing the lowest unemployment rate in over 50 years. Washington has gained over 83,000 jobs, across both the public and private sectors since April 2018. In such a competitive environment for talent, what are you doing to differentiate your organization and attract and retain the best and brightest candidates?

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HHS Proposes Rolling Back Section 1557 Discrimination Protections Related to Gender Identity

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has released proposed regulations that would make significant changes to existing HHS guidance related to discrimination provisions contained in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

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HSA Requirements and Limits for 2020

The IRS released the 2020 health savings account (HSA) annual contribution limits and high deductible health plan (HDHP) requirements in IRS Rev. Proc. 2019-25.

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REMINDER: PCORI Fees Due July 31

Employers who sponsored self-funded medical plans ending sometime during 2018 must report and pay the ACA Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fees no later than July 31, 2019.

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Gender Health Benefits in Washington State

With the increased visibility and calls for equity for transgender and non-binary (i.e. individuals who do not identify with either male or female genders) individuals, many of our Washington State healthcare and nonprofit clients have recently received questions from employees about medical coverage for gender health services.

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Protecting Organizations Against Invoice Manipulation

Finance teams in most professional service organizations are by now quite accustomed to receiving phishing emails that purport to be from an officer of the company requesting the recipient to immediately wire funds for a new project or piece of equipment.

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OCIPs – A Contractor’s Guide to Ensure Proper Protection

Why would an owner want to have their project insured by an OCIP in the first place? While reasons such as continuity of coverage, ability to have smaller contractors participate, and better claims resolution often are cited…

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State Individual Mandates and Reporting Requirements

The ACA includes a requirement for individuals to either enroll in “minimum essential coverage” or pay a “Shared Responsibility Payment.” This is known as the “Individual Mandate” and was first reported on 2014 federal income tax returns.

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Preventing Negligent Entrustment with Fleet Safety Policies

One key item insurers are reviewing in written fleet safety policies is whether systems are in place to ensure only qualified employees are driving on the company’s behalf.

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IRS Clarifies Employer’s Ability to Recover Mistaken HSA Contributions

On December 28, 2018, the IRS issued Information Letter Number 2018-0033, which provides clarification about the situations in which an employer may attempt to recoup a mistaken contribution to an employee’s Health Savings Account (HSA).

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