Small Business Benefits
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, including the No Surprises Act; The Transparency in Coverage Rule; and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
Federal laws have introduced changes that impact most employer-sponsored, self-funded health benefit plans:
We will keep brokers updated on important provisions; help plans administered by Star Marketing and Administration, Inc. comply with applicable aspects; and educate members about changes.
A timeline for provisions follows for self-funded ERISA plans.
- The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 20211, including the No Surprises Act2, ushered in new federal mandates, such as those designed to prevent surprise medical bills.
- As provisions in the Transparency in Coverage Rule3 made healthcare price information publicly accessible, consumers gained even more information to make informed healthcare decisions.
- Due to Medicare Part D changes required by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, some health benefit plans that previously were considered creditable will be non-creditable in 2025.
We will keep brokers updated on important provisions; help plans administered by Star Marketing and Administration, Inc. comply with applicable aspects; and educate members about changes.
A timeline for provisions follows for self-funded ERISA plans.
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Machine-Readable Files
1 The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020.
2The No Surprises Act is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The No Surprises Act does not apply to health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) or other account-based group health plans, short-term, limited-duration insurance, and retiree-only plans.
3 The Transparency in Coverage rule was released on Oct. 29, 2020, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury. The rule does not apply to health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) or other account-based group health plans, short-term, limited-duration insurance, grandfathered plans, and retiree-only plans.
4 Important Open Negotiation and Independent Dispute Resolutions Deadlines
5 The following providers cannot provide notice and consent and their services are subject to the No Surprises Act: radiologists, anesthesiologists, pathologists, neonatologists, assistant surgeons, hospitalists and intensivists. In the case of an emergency, notice may be provided after a patient is stabilized. If notice and consent is not issued/obtained, protections of the No Surprises Act continue to apply.
1 The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020.
2The No Surprises Act is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The No Surprises Act does not apply to health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) or other account-based group health plans, short-term, limited-duration insurance, and retiree-only plans.
3 The Transparency in Coverage rule was released on Oct. 29, 2020, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury. The rule does not apply to health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) or other account-based group health plans, short-term, limited-duration insurance, grandfathered plans, and retiree-only plans.
4 Important Open Negotiation and Independent Dispute Resolutions Deadlines
5 The following providers cannot provide notice and consent and their services are subject to the No Surprises Act: radiologists, anesthesiologists, pathologists, neonatologists, assistant surgeons, hospitalists and intensivists. In the case of an emergency, notice may be provided after a patient is stabilized. If notice and consent is not issued/obtained, protections of the No Surprises Act continue to apply.