compliance

compliance

Compliance Brief | November 2026

IRS Updates FAQs on Medical Expenses Related to Nutrition, Wellness, and General Health The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) addressing which nutrition, wellness, and general health expenses qualify for tax-favored treatment under health savings ...

Agencies Issue Transparency in Coverage Final Rules

On October 5, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services (through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), in partnership with the Departments of Labor and the Department of the Treasury (collectively, the “Agencies”) jointly finalized changes to the Transparency in Coverage ...

Compliance Brief | October 2026

2026 Gag Clause Attestation Deadline Employers sponsoring group health plans should have the Dec. 31, 2026, Gag Clause Prohibition Compliance Attestation (GCPCA) on their year-end compliance calendars. The requirement stems from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), which prohibits ...

New ACA Affordability Threshold and Employer Penalties

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released new figures for determining affordability for employer-sponsored health coverage and increased employer penalties for failing to comply with the Affordable Care Act’s (ACAs) employer shared responsibility mandate. Affordability Percentage ...

Compliance Brief | September 2026

Proposed Regulations Address Employer Contributions to Trump Accounts and Dependent Care Nondiscrimination Testing The Department of the Treasury and the IRS have issued proposed regulations providing guidance on employer contributions to Trump Accounts and clarifying nondiscrimination testing ...

IRS Proposes Long-Awaited Nondiscrimination Testing Rules for Dependent Care Assistance Programs

Proposed regulations issued by the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service on Aug. 11, 2026, address dependent care assistance programs (DCAPs), providing long-awaited guidance on the nondiscrimination requirements applicable to existing DCAPs under Section 129. DCAPs allow ...

New Trump Account Proposed Regulations Give Employers a Roadmap for Implementation

Employers interested in adding Trump Accounts to their benefits offerings now have their first detailed framework for doing so. On Aug. 11, 2026, the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (the Agencies) issued proposed regulations explaining how employers may contribute to ...

No Surprises Act IDR Changes

Group health plan sponsors – particularly sponsors of self-insured plans – should prepare for a series of operational changes to the federal independent dispute resolution (IDR) process under the No Surprises Act. The changes do not take effect all at once. Some requirements are already in ...

Compliance Brief | August 2026

DOL Proposes New, Additional Electronic Delivery Safe Harbor for Group Health Plans The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed a new optional electronic disclosure safe harbor that would expand the way ERISA-covered group health plans provide required notices and disclosures to ...

Compliance Brief | July 2026

Understanding the Medical Loss Ratio When employers purchase fully insured health coverage, they expect premium dollars to be used primarily for employee health care, not excessive administrative costs or insurer profits. One of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) lesser-known consumer ...

Brinson Benefits