Compliance Stuff

Providers that rely on telehealth for Medicare patients can continue to do so as a result of an extension of the Medicare telehealth rules that were originally implemented during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (“COVID”). On February 3, 2026, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, H.R. 7148 was signed into law and, among other features, extends key components of the emergency telehealth requirements and will continue to allow for increased provider eligibility, remote care from home and relaxed site-of-service, all rules upon which providers have extensively relied since COVID . CMS extended these rules in order to provide greater flexibility and remote health care access. Providers should be aware that this extension only will last through December 31, 2027, unless Congress puts a permanent solution in place. [ View source .] Source(s): Medicare Telehealth Expansion Continues Under New Federal Extension | JD Supra . (2026). JD Supra. https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/medicare...

Takeaways The IRS ended 2025 transition relief so payroll systems, reporting workflows and workforce policies should be fully operational in 2026 for information returns, benefit plan operation, immigration compliance pressure, and workforce policy impacts. Immigration and benefits compliance costs rise in 2026, driven by new OBBBA mandated immigration fees, heightened worksite enforcement expectations and benefit plan updates. OBBBA provisions continue phasing in through 2028; employers should engage counsel and vendors proactively to manage compliance risk and minimize disruption. Related links OBBBA’s Tips & Overtime Tax Break: Reclassification Considerations, Reporting Requirements, Industry Impact + More IRS Guidance on Claiming the New Tax Deduction for Tips and Overtime Pay IRS 2025 Penalty Relief — A Break for Employers Under OBBBA’s Tax Reporting Rules New Tax-Advantaged Savings Accounts for Children: Trump Accounts Expected to Go Live in 2026 Federal OBBBA Roundup: What E...

Overview The world of health benefits is constantly evolving. Recent policy shifts and legislative developments are expected to impact the economic landscape and have significant implications for employer plan sponsors, insurers, third-party administrators (TPAs), and individuals covered by employer-sponsored health plans. This article provides an overview of the current landscape, highlighting key updates and strategic considerations for navigating these changes. In Depth Recent legislative updates Telehealth HDHP safe harbor:   Retroactive to January 1, 2025, high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) may continue to cover telehealth and other remote care services without making participants ineligible for health savings account (HSA) contributions. Section 1557 and gender-affirming care:   Federal rules may soon reduce healthcare nondiscrimination protections that apply to gender-affirming care. State policies vary widely. Some require coverage while others restrict it, dependin...

On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a comprehensive  budget reconciliation bill  into law, loosening rules around health savings accounts (HSAs), extending telehealth relief, and providing additional income tax relief for tips, overtime pay, and some popular employee fringe benefits. Quick Hits The budget reconciliation bill makes important changes to health savings account (HSA) eligibility and reimbursements, including retroactively restoring the telehealth relief provided by the CARES Act. It also addresses tax relief provided to several fringe benefits. The law also eliminates income taxes on tips and overtime pay. Coverage for Telehealth Services The law makes permanent the  telehealth provisions from the CARES Act in 2020  and subsequent guidance that allow high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to cover telehealth and other remote medical services before the deductible and still qualify as an HSA-eligible plan . This provision had expired at the end o...