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Employee Benefits | Payroll | HR Solutions
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| News IRS Clarifies Previous Guidance on Form W-2 Informational Reporting Requirement On January 3, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") released Notice 2012-9, which restates and clarifies its prior guidance on the requirement under the Affordable Care Act to report the cost of employer-sponsored health coverage on employees' annual Forms W-2 (using box 12, code DD). Notice 2012-9 supersedes the prior guidance issued under Notice 2011-28 and clarifies various aspects of the reporting requirement. This alert provides a general overview of the reporting requirement, updated to reflect the latest guidance, and summarizes other changes and clarifications contained in Notice 2012-9. Our April 4, 2011 client alert (found here) describes other aspects of the reporting requirements in greater detail. Other than the changes and clarifications noted below, the summary contained in our April 4, 2011 client alert continues to be relevant. |
News January 2012 Health Care Reform Update FEDERAL UPDATE: The Supreme Court has scheduled three days of hearings starting March 26, 2012 to hear arguments on PPACA. The first day of arguments will address whether the Anti-Injunction Act makes it premature for the court to rule on the constitutionality of health care reform until the indi-vidual mandate actually goes into effect in 2014. The second day arguments focus on the constitution-ality of the individual mandate itself. The third day arguments will center on whether the rest of the law can remain if the individual mandate does not survive and if states can be forced to expand their costs and administration. The court is expected to issue a ruling by the end of its current term in June. STATE UPDATE: PPACA mandated and provided grants for each state to create an exchange by January 1, 2014. Plans would go on sale October 2013 for coverage scheduled to start in January. If the states fail to create an exchange, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is charged with providing exchange services for that state. The exchanges will primarily function as a web-based organization bringing together buyers and sellers of health insurance benefits. Oregon has passed two laws SB 91 and SB 99 creating the exchange and requiring all health insurers to offer certain plans. There is a nine member board overseeing the exchange, exchange employees have been hired and several committees have been created. |
News Wellness 2012 A cruise can be a fun, relaxing way to spend a vacation, but any vacation spent with the flu is no vacation at all. Since a large number of people can come into close contact with one another on cruise ships, respiratory viruses, including flu, have the potential to spread easily on cruises. While not uncommon, recent cruise ship flu outbreaks have prompted CDC to remind travelers to get a flu vaccination and to take other preventative actions, both prior to and while on a cruise. "Make sure you're up to date on your flu vaccination before traveling on a cruise," says Dr. Nancy Cox, director of CDC's Influenza Division. "It's good practice to check with your doctor at least 4 to 6 weeks before traveling to discuss vaccines you may need or medicines you should take while on a trip." |
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