The DOL recently released its Spring Regulatory Agenda for 2023, and it includes several important health and welfare plan initiatives for this year. Below is a summary of some of the more notable items that plan sponsors should be aware of, along with the DOL’s proposed schedule of rulemaking:
- Requirements concerning the disclosure of air ambulance services by group health plans, health insurance providers, and related providers (final rule scheduled for August 2023).
- Proposed amendments to the final rules regarding religious and moral exemptions and accommodations regarding coverage of certain preventive services under the Affordable Care Act (public comments currently under review by the DOL).
- Amendment to the requirements related to surprise health care billing (proposed rule scheduled for June 2023).
- Proposed amendments to the final rules implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (proposed rule scheduled for June 2023).
- Provider nondiscrimination requirements for group health plans and health insurance issuers in the group and individual markets (proposed rule scheduled for August 2023).
- Reevaluation of the criteria for a group or association of employers to sponsor a multiple employer group health plan (proposed rule scheduled for August 2023).
- Requirements related to the Advanced Explanation of Benefits concerning the No Surprises Act (proposed rule scheduled for March 2024).
- Modernization of the financial and other annual reporting requirements on the annual Form 5500 and potential changes to group health plan requirements (proposed rule scheduled for March 2024).
The full DOL Spring 2023 Regulatory Agenda is available here.