Bulletins

This month the IRS released 2027 penalty amounts assessed when applicable large employers (ALEs) - those with at least 50 full-time employees, including full-time equivalent (FTE) employees - fail to comply with coverage and affordability requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 

In April, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed into law the Consumer Protection and Accountability Act (SB 20), allowing regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) operating in the state. Effective July 1, 2026, the law gives the state more oversight of PBMs, including licensing, rebate...

The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) requires insurance companies and employer-based plans to submit information regarding prescription and health care spending to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by June 1 of each year. 

Cigna is in active negotiations with HCA Midwest Health ahead of their expiring contract. HCA Midwest Health providers were recently sent a letter notifying them of the potential impact of failed negotiations. The current contract is set to expire on May 1, 2026. Members will receive a letter...

Language addressing substance use disorder protections has been added to the Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP). Gravie released a template today containing the new requirements and advises employers to provide a copy to group health plan participants by the April 17 deadline.

Sponsors of self-funded health plans must update their Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) by February 16, 2026*. Actual distribution to plan participants must be within 60 days of that date or April 17, 2026. The last mandatory NPP update was in 2013 under the HIPAA Omnibus Rule. To assist...

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) announced late last week plans to affiliate with Highmark, a not-for-profit health insurer and the nation’s fifth largest Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan. The arrangement is subject to a regulatory approval process, which could take six months or...

Aetna notified Bukaty Companies this past week that it expects the contract renewal with St. Luke’s and Barnes-Jewish Health Systems to be finalized in coming days.

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.