Each July 31, heath plans pay an IRS fee to support the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a nonprofit research organization chartered by the Affordable Care Act to improve health care outcomes and experiences for patients. Self-funded plan sponsors pay the fee directly, while carriers collect the fee through monthly premiums and pay the IRS on behalf of their fully insured clients. Depending upon the plan year end date, the fee is either $2.79 or $3 per covered life. The IRS will release an updated Form 720 used to submit the fee in the second quarter of the year.