Compliance Resources

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Date Annual Benefit Plan Limits October 2007 IRS Announces Benefit Limits for 2008 December 2006 IRS Announces Benefit Limits for 2007 (UPDATED)

Date Cafeteria Plans December 2006 IRS Loosens, Then Tightens FSA Debit Card Rules August 2006 IRS Issues Final HSA Comparability Regs, Clarifies the Cafeteria Plan Loophole July 2006 Belly Up to the Bar Code: IRS Ruling Enhances Flexibility of FSA and HRA Debit Cards November 2005 Saving Grace: IRS Clarifies FSA Grace Period and HSA Interaction May 2005 Use it or...Use it Later IRS Authorizes Exception to FSA "Use it or Lose it" Rule

Date COBRA June 2005 Model COBRA Early Termination Notice June 2005 Model COBRA Unavailability Notice

Date Employment Discrimination April 2005 Raining on the Parade Age Discrimination Rulings Darken Employers' Skies

Date Health Reform Initiatives October 2007 Employer Guide to the San Francisco Health Care Security Ordinance July 2006 Federal Trial Court Strikes Down Maryland's "Wal-Mart" Health Reform Law April 2006 Bay State Leads the Charge on Health Reform

Date Health Savings Accounts February 2007 IRS Issues First Guidance on 2007 HSA Changes, Also Rules on HSA-Compatible Coverages December 2006 Congress’ “Midnight Special” Overhauls HSAs; Supercharged Rules Apply for 2007 September 2006 Congress Set to Tinker with HSAs August 2006 IRS Issues Final HSA Comparability Regs, Clarifies the Cafeteria Plan Loophole November 2005 Saving Grace: IRS Clarifies FSA Grace Period and HSA Interaction April 2005 Family Ties IRS Rules on Coordinating Spousal Coverage Under High Deductible Plans

Date HIPAA April 2007 HIPAA Privacy Reminders Due; New Creditable Coverage Notices Too! January 2007 Feds Finally Finalize HIPAA Nondiscrimination Regulations, Clarify Wellness Programs December 2005 Don't forget the new HIPAA Portability Rules December 2005 Model Notice of Special Enrollment Rights December 2005 Model Certificate of Creditable Coverage December 2005 Model Individual Notice of Period of Pre-Existing Condition Restriction December 2005 Model Notice of Pre-Existing Condition Restriction November 2005 HIPAA Security's Second Target: The Small Health Plan June 2005 Creditable and Non-Creditable Coverage Notices June 2005 Model HIPAA Privacy Notice

Date Hurricane Relief for Benefit Plans September 2005 Katrina's Wrath II: Additional Relief from IRS, DOL and Congress September 2005 Katrina's Wrath: Employers and Employees Grapple with Benefits Issues

Date Medicare November 2006 Creditable Coverage Notice Deadline Nears September 2006 CMS Issues Re-Revised Model Part D Notices January 2006 Feds Issue Guidance on Health Plans’ Notice to CMS Regarding Creditable Coverage August 2005 Employers Guide to Medicare Part D June 2005 CMS Delivers Agency Honors Pledge to Streamline Medicare Part D Notice Obligation

Date New Developments September 2006 Employer Fined $32,400 for Shoddy SPD April 2005 Lockton Testimony to Congress Regarding Association Health Plans

Date Retirement Plans January 2007 DOL Explains the Hows, Whens and Whats of the PPA's Quarterly Benefit Statement Duty December 2006 IRS Issues PPA Diversification Guidance; Initial Notice Deadline Extended to January 1 October 2006 Pension Protection Act Part II - Changes to Distribution Rules September 2006 Lawsuits Allege Failure to Adequately Disclose 401k Fees September 2006 Pension Protection Act Part I - Sweeping Changes in Store for 401(k)s August 2006 Federal Appeals Court Reverses IBM Pension Decision, Resuscitates Cash Balance Plans January 2006 IRS Suspends W-2 Reporting of Some Nonqualified Deferred Compensation March 2005 Keep on Rollin' Immediate Action Required on Automatic Rollover Rules

Date Texas Legislation October 2005 Lone Star Shocker: Texas Mandates Employer-Paid Health Coverage Extensions