Our compliance philosophy is very simple: we believe it’s our responsibility to provide clear and actionable information. We are committed to translating legalese into English and telling you how proposed rules or existing regulations will impact your benefits. Then we tell you what you need to do and when.

Information is distributed in a number of ways depending on the nature and urgency of the topic. Think of Compliance Updates as breaking news bulletins. These notices are released in response to state or federal actions that will impact your benefits or wellness programs.

2013 IRS Limits for Tax-Favored Benefit Plans
November 29, 2012
The table below shows the 2013 limits for a number of tax-favored benefit plans, including 401(k) plans and Consumer-Driven Health Plans.

San Francisco Health Care Security Ordinance 2013 Expenditure Rates
August 29, 2012
Recently, the City of San Francisco released the San Francisco Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO) Health Care Expenditure rates for 2013.

Supreme Court upholds PPACA
July 5, 2012
On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court of the United States (the “Court”) ruled, in a 5-to-4 landmark decision, that the individual mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is constitutional,

IRS Releases New Guidance on $2,500 FSA Limit
June 4, 2012
Last week, the IRS released new guidance on the $2,500 Health Care FSA contribution limit in IRS Notice 2012-40.

DOL Begins Enforcing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
May 8, 2012
In the latest development in the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the Department of Labor (DOL) has begun auditing health and welfare plans for compliance.

IRS Releases 2013 HSA and CDHP Limits
May 4, 2012
On April 27, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced index figures for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Qualified Consumer-Driven Health Plans (CDHP) in 2013:

Healthy San Francisco Update
March 28, 2012
Annual Reports due April 30, 2012. As you know, San Francisco’s Health Care Security Ordinance (Healthy San Francisco) requires for-profit employers with 20 or more employees (and nonprofits with 50 or more employees) to spend a minimum amount on health care for covered employees and to report on these expenditures annually.

Final Rules Published for Summary of Benefits and Coverage under PPACA
March 1, 2012
On February 22, 2012, the Department of the Treasury, Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services published the Summary of Benefits (SBC) Final Rule. While the Final Rule clarifies previously released guidance, the most significant change is the effective date.

San Francisco OLSE Releases Model Notices
January 17, 2012
San Francisco’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) has released FAQs which focus on the recently enacted amendment to Healthy San Francisco (HCSO) creating the partial non-forfeitability of employer contributions to expense reimbursement plans

Reporting Health Care Costs on W-2s
January 10, 2012
Late last year, the Internal Revenue Service released guidance about the new W-2 reporting rules required under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). All employers will be required to include the cost of employer-sponsored healthcare on W2s.

Revised Timing for Medicare Part D Notices – Action Required
August 23, 2011
The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordability Act of 2010 (PPACA) changed the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment period to October 15, 2011 through December 7, 2011. As a result, employers must distribute Medicare Part D Notices for the current plan year to members by October 15.

Health Reform Update: Guidance Released on Uniform Summary of Benefits and Coverage
August 23, 2011
On August 18, 2011, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury released proposed regulations that provide standards for use by group health plans and health insurance carriers in compiling and providing a summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) and a uniform glossary of commonly used health insurance and medical terms, as required by the Affordable Care Act. The Departments also released templates, instructions, and related materials to assist with development of the SBC and disclosure of the uniform glossary. The proposed regulations were published yesterday in the August 22, 2011 Federal Register.

Increase to San Francisco Health Care Ordinance Spending Requirement;
2012 Limits for Health Savings Account
August 9, 2011