Bulletins

The Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) recently finalized Improving Transparency Into Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fee Disclosure rule aims to demystify pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) pricing and fees, help employers evaluate the reasonableness of service arrangements and provide greater insight into...

The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) prohibits group health plans and health insurance issuers from entering into agreements that restrict access to or disclosure of certain health care cost, quality-of-care and claims information. These prohibited contractual provisions are commonly known as...

The IRS recently issued Revenue Procedure 2026-26, increasing the affordability threshold to 10.22% of annual household income for plan years beginning in 2027. The rate is used to determine whether employer-sponsored health coverage is considered affordable under ACA employer shared responsibility...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires employers that offer prescription drug coverage to notify Medicare-eligible health plan participants whether their coverage is creditable or non-creditable. Prescription drug coverage is considered creditable if the benefits pay, on...

Nearly 25 years ago, the Department of Labor (DOL) adopted a rule allowing group health plan sponsors to issue plan-related notices and documents electronically under a safe harbor provision.

Each year sponsors of self-funded (including level-funded) plans must file the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee. Applicable employers must calculate the fee using one of four approved methods and submit payment to the IRS using Form 720 by July 31. Detailed instructions and ...

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 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Revenue Procedure 2026-4, establishing inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) for the 2027 calendar year. 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and North Kansas City Health (NKC Health) reached an agreement ensuring that NKC Health’s hospital and clinics remain in-network for Blue KC members.

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).