Bulletins

Aetna and its third-party administrator, Meritain Health, have started to notify members by mail that unless contract negotiations are completed by the end of the year, Saint Luke’s and Barnes-Jewish Health Systems will no longer be in-network.

The IRS recently released Notice 2025-62 granting penalty relief for employers and payors required to report cash tips and overtime compensation on 2025 tax forms. The relief applies to Forms W-2 and 1099 that workers must receive by January 31, 2026. The relief only applies to the 2025 tax year.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) gag clause prohibitionrequires issuers and plan sponsors to attest that any agreements they enter with health care providers, third-party administrators or other service providers will not contain language restricting access to cost and quality-of-care...

Starting January 2026, Gravie is partnering with Express Scripts by Evernorth as the carrier’s new pharmacy benefit manager (PBM). This new partnership will create opportunities for savings and introduce new member-facing price transparency tools. The change impacts all Gravie groups and health...

Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a revised simplified determination that can be used by most employer groups* to evaluate the creditable coverage status of their prescription drug coverage. (Note: For fully insured and most level-funded plans,...

In a move to curb the impact of high-cost drug utilization on members and plan sponsors, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) is launching a new drug discount program.

The IRS recently issued Revenue Procedure 2025-25, establishing the 2026 affordability threshold at 9.96% of annual household income. This is a nearly 1% increase from the 2025 threshold of 9.02%. The rate is used to determine the affordability of employer-sponsored health coverage and eligibility...

Throughout August, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas members can earn a $5 digital gift card for learning more about the SmartShopper comparison tool. Members who utilize a provider, identified as delivering a high-quality, best-cost outcome within the platform, can earn cash-back rewards.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed a measure overturning the voter-approved initiative requiring Missouri employers to provide paid sick time and statutorily adjusting the minimum wage each year.

Each year self-funded (including level-funded) plan sponsors must file the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee. Applicable employers should use one of four methods to calculate how much is owed and submit the information to the IRS using Form 720 by July 31. Detailed guidance...