Summer has come and gone, but there was no summer vacation for employee benefits legislation and guidance. In case you have been too busy to check out our blogs lately, here are some key items to help you stay organized and catch up on items you might have missed. As always, you may access our entire catalogue of employee benefits blog posts here on the Snell & Wilmer website. You also may view all of our SW Benefits Updates here.

Not All Surprises Are Good – Phase I of the Surprise Billing Rules

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Allison Bans

On July 1, 2021, the Office of Personnel Management, Department of the Treasury, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Labor issued the interim final rule “Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part I” (the “IFR”), which is the first phase of regulations implementing the No Surprises Act.

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Departments Provide Some Relief to Health Plan Sponsors Facing Looming Year-End Deadlines

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Nancy K. Campbell

Year-end is always a scramble for health plan sponsors as they go through renewal and open enrollment. This year was looking to be worse than normal given the impending deadlines for complying with the transparency in coverage regulations (“TiC”) and the numerous changes made by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “CAA”).

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CalCurrent Podcast and Equity Compensation for Startups

Posted on June 11, 2021 by Greg Gautam

On May 13, 2021, Phoenix executive compensation and employee benefits partner, Greg Gautam, joined Snell & Wilmer’s “CalCurrent” podcast. On his episode, Greg covered five common pitfalls private companies and startup companies should watch out for when structuring their equity compensation and incentive programs.

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Departments Clarify that HIV PrEP Services Must Be Free by September 17

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Amberlee Conley

Back in June of 2019, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (“USPSTF”) released an A-rated recommendation for HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis (“PrEP”). As a result, the Affordable Care Act’s preventive care rules require group health plans to cover recommended PrEP without cost-sharing, effective for plan years beginning on or after June 30, 2020 (i.e., effective January 1, 2021 for plans with calendar year plan years).

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