December 2022

Prescription Drug Reporting Due by Dec. 27, 2022

 

Employee Benefit Plan Limits Increase for 2023

 

Prescription Drug Reporting Due by Dec. 27, 2022

A new transparency provision requires employer-sponsored health plans and health insurance issuers to annually report information about prescription drugs and health care spending to the federal government. This reporting process is referred to as the “prescription drug data collection” (or “RxDC report”).

The first RxDC report is due by Dec. 27, 2022, and covers data for 2020 and 2021. Going forward, the annual deadline for the RxDC report is June 1. This means that the second RxDC report is due by June 1, 2023, covering data for 2022.

Impact on Employers

The RxDC reporting requirement applies to employer-sponsored group health plans, including fully insured and self-funded plans. According to interim final rules, employers may use issuers, third-party administrators (TPAs), pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) or other third parties to submit the RxDC reports on their behalf.

Federal agencies have stated that, although employers can submit the RxDC reports on their own, they expect it will be rare for employers to do so.

Action Steps

Employers should reach out to their issuers, TPAs or PBMs, as applicable, to confirm that they will submit the RxDC reports for their health plans. Employers should also update their written agreements with these third parties to reflect this reporting responsibility.

In addition, employers with self-funded plans should monitor their TPA’s or PBM’s compliance with the RxDC reporting. Unlike fully insured plans, the legal responsibility for RxDC reporting stays with a self-insured plan even if its TPA or PBM agrees to provide the report on its behalf.


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Employee Benefit Plan Limits Increase for 2023

Many employee benefits are subject to annual dollar limits that are updated for inflation before the beginning of each calendar year. Due to high inflation rates, many employee benefit plan limits will substantially increase in 2023. Note that some benefit limits are not indexed for inflation, such as the dependent care FSA limit and the catch-up contribution limit for HSAs.

For plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2023, the following limits have increased:

  • HSA contribution limits:
    • Single coverage—$3,850 (up $200 from 2022)
    • Family coverage—$7,750 (up $450 from 2022)
  • Health FSA contribution limit—$3,050 (up $200 from 2022)
  • Health FSA carryover limit—$610 (up $40 from 2022)
  • Transportation fringe benefit plan monthly limits—$300 (up $20 from 2022) Employees’ 401(k) elective deferral limit—$22,500 (up $2,000 from 2022)
  • Employees’ 401(k) elective deferral limit—$22,500 (up $2,000 from 2022)
  • Employees’ 401(k) catch-up contribution limit—$7,500 (up $1,000 from 2022)

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The information provided in this alert is not, is not intended to be, and shall not be construed to be, either the provision of legal advice or an offer to provide legal services, nor does it necessarily reflect the opinions of the HealthSure, our lawyers or our clients. This is not legal advice. No client-lawyer relationship between you and our lawyers is or may be created by your use of this information. Rather, the content is intended as a general overview of the subject matter covered. HealthSure and Marathas Barrow Weatherhead Lent LLP are not obligated to provide updates on the information presented herein. Those reading this alert are encouraged to seek direct counsel on legal questions.
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