PCORI Fees Due by July 31, 2017

  • On May 25, 2017
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee is a fee on health insurers’ policies and plan sponsors of self-insured health plans (including level-funded health plans) that helps to fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).  For an overview of health plans that are subject to the PCORI fee, please click here. When is the PCORI Fee due? PCORI fees are due […]
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Watch Now: Seminar on FMLA and ADA

  • On May 17, 2017
Kistler Tiffany Benefits and Dilworth Paxson, LLC, recently joined forces to present a seminar titled “My Employees Can Miss How Much Work? Managing the Challenges of Leave Under FMLA and ADA.” KTB Director of Compliance Services, Scott Wham, J.D., LLC, opens the program with a brief review of the current state of health care reform […]
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Health Reform Change May Have Slowed Down, but It Has Not Stopped

  • On March 27, 2017
Last week, President Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress halted their immediate efforts to change the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  While we now know that sweeping health policy changes like the elimination of the employer mandate will not occur in the near future, we are hearing that other important health policy actions are still underway.  As […]
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House GOP Releases First Draft of Health Reform Repeal/Replace Measure

  • On March 7, 2017
On Monday evening, March 6, 2017 the House Republican leadership unveiled its first official version of legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.  Known as the American Health Care Act, the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees will begin their work on “marking up” the legislation this week. See the […]
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Recent Notable Federal Health Plan Guidance

  • On February 17, 2017
In January and early February, federal government agencies issued several key pieces of guidance that may be of help to employer group benefit plans for 2017 administration purposes. The 2017 federal poverty level (FPL) standards were released, which applicable large employers (ALEs) may elect to use to help determine if the coverage they offer to […]
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Health Reform Changes Are A Hot Topic, But No Action Items Yet

  • On February 17, 2017
While there is lots of talk in Washington, D.C. these days about potential repeal, replacement, and/or rebuilding of the health reform law, so far there has been no action that would actually change any current requirements for employer group benefit plans. In fact, employer plans need to be very mindful of some key looming compliance […]
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Overtime Rule Postponed By Federal Court

  • On November 28, 2016
On Nov. 22, 2016, a federal judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction, halting the enforcement of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new overtime rule until further notice. The rule, which was set to take effect on Dec. 1, 2016, would have increased the salary threshold for the “white collar overtime exemptions” to $47,476 per year. […]
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IRS Partially Extends Employer Reporting Deadlines

  • On November 21, 2016
Will Keep Good Faith Compliance Standard for 2016 Reporting Done in 2017 On Friday, November 18, the Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2016-70 which extends the due date for furnishing to individuals the 2016 Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, and the 2016 Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage, from January 31, 2017, to March […]
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Shawn Orenstein Promoted to CEO of Kistler Tiffany Benefits, Joe Dowd to President

  • On November 4, 2016
Kistler Tiffany Benefits, a private employee benefits firm headquartered in Berwyn, PA, announced today that William (Bill) O. Daggett, Jr., the company’s CEO and founder, will transition the position of CEO to Shawn N. Orenstein, effectively immediately. Orenstein previously served as president of the company, a position he has held since 2005. Joseph Dowd, current […]
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KTB’s Director of Compliance Services to Address Congress

  • On October 17, 2016
On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, Kistler Tiffany Benefits’ Director of Compliance Services Scott Wham, Esq. will brief Congress on the ACA’s individual and employer mandates, reporting requirements, and exchange and tax credit eligibility provisions. The briefing is designed to inform congressional staffers about the many compliance concerns of employers, including how both large and small employers […]
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Time to Prepare for 2016 ACA Reporting

  • On September 19, 2016
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released 2016 draft forms for reporting under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Sections 6055 and 6056. Forms 1094-B and 1095-B will be used by entities reporting under Section 6055, including self-insured plan sponsors that are not applicable large employers (ALEs). Draft instructions were released on Aug. 10, 2016.  NOTE: An […]
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High-Deductible Health Plans Reap Big Savings

  • On July 14, 2016
By Geoff Owens, Employee Benefits Consultant Health insurance is a huge source of frustration for the average American—it is costly, it is confusing, and many folks feel like it doesn’t cover anything. Because of consistent cost increases, High Deductible Health Plans, or HDHP’s, also known as qualified plans or HSA plans are becoming a “standard” […]
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Department of Labor Releases Final Overtime Regulations

  • On May 18, 2016
After much anticipation, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued the revisions to Part 541 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime regulations on Wednesday, May 18, 2016.  So what do the revisions to Part 541 mean to employers today and in the near future? The first and most significant change addresses the salary threshold […]
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My View: Millennials Shouldn’t Gamble their Wealth on their Health

  • On May 16, 2016
This article originally ran in the Deseret News on Friday, May 13, 2016. Millennials are increasingly making traditional “adult” purchases. In 2015, Americans in their 20s and 30s bought 4 million vehicles — more than any generation other than baby boomers — and over a third of millennials now own homes. Unfortunately, nearly 8 million […]
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Tips for Completing IRS Form 1094-C for Controlled Groups

  • On May 3, 2016
The IRS has clarified the proper method for completing IRS Form 1094-C on behalf of a controlled group.  IRS Form 1094-C is the transmittal form for IRS Forms 1095-C. Applicable Large Employers subject to The Affordable Care Act’s reporting requirements are required to submit their IRS Form 1094-Cs and 1095-Cs to the IRS by May […]
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Medicare Part D Disclosures Due within 60 Days of the Start of the Plan Year

  • On February 8, 2016
Group health plan sponsors are required to complete an online disclosure form with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on an annual basis and at other select times, indicating whether the plan’s prescription drug coverage is creditable or non-creditable. The plan sponsor must complete the online disclosure within 60 days after the beginning […]
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IRS Extends ACA Filing Deadlines

  • On December 29, 2015
The IRS issued Notice 2016-4 late yesterday extending the due date for furnishing to employees Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, and Form 1095-C, Employer Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage. The due date for furnishing information to employees moves from February 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016. Notice 2016-4 extends the due date: 1. For furnishing […]
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