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The Your Gag Clause Attestation Is Due Annually The consolidated appropriations after 2021’s gag clause prohibition stop plans from shacking themselves to agreements that suppress vital information and data. This “clause” is a sneaky contractual term that keeps information locked away from prying eyes. What kind of info? Provider-specific costs, quality of care, information, and or data, or electronic access to the identified claims. It could be hidden in agreements between plans and providers, networks, TPAs, PMs, or other service providers with the network. But here’s the catch: these restrictions don’t have to be spelled out Word for Word. As long as the contract term, directly or indirectly, muzzles a plan from sharing the information, it is breaking the gag clause prohibition rules. Who must comply? Fully insured and self-insured group health plans, ERISA plans, non-federal government plans, and church plans must all report. Grandfathered health plans don’t get a free pass, either. And it doesn’t stop there. Plans must also attach to their guide cause prohibition compliance every year. The annual deadline to complete this filing is December 31. Plans attestation. It will be the calendar day after the last attestation (e.g., 2023 attestation ended on December 31, 2024 attestation began on January 1, 2024). Some entities can sidestep this attestation requirement if they offer only accepted benefits (like accident only or disability coverage) or if they’re short-term insurance providers or Medicare/Medicaid plans. HRA’s and account-based group health plans can breathe easy, too. MZQ Consulting has created a simple, straightforward, and affordable method for healthcare plans to accomplish their filings. Visit https://lnkd.in/ejD54Cxu to learn more.

Employers, are you fulfilling your fiduciary duties regarding Medicare Creditable Coverage Notices? There’s a lot to unravel when it comes to employee benefits. At MZQ Consulting, we dive deep into why this matters now more than ever. Don’t miss the latest episode of the ShiftShapers Podcast, where our expert Marissa Rufo breaks it all down! ⚖️ Listen Now: https://lnkd.in/dnWibDbT YouTube: https://lnkd.in/drnPHQtr #EmployeeBenefits #Medicare #Compliance #ShiftShapers #ShiftshapersPodcast #EmployerResponsibilities #EmployerCompliance #MedicareCompliance #BusinessLeaders #BenefitCompliance #HealthBenefits #MZQConsulting

Confused about Medicare Creditable Coverage? 🧐 You're not the only one! At MZQ Consulting, we’re here to unravel this mystery and help you think the right way about employee benefits. Tune into the latest episode of the ShiftShapers Podcast, where our very own Marissa Rufo, JD, MBA, breaks down why this is such a hot topic and what it means for your business or organization. 🎙️ Listen Now: https://lnkd.in/dnWibDbT YouTube: https://lnkd.in/drnPHQtr #Medicare #CreditableCoverage #HealthPlans #BusinessCompliance #MedicareCompliance #BenefitsCompliance #EmployeeBenefits #HealthBenefits #BusinessLeadership #BusinessTips

✍  Have you seen our latest blog post, "Mastering Medicare Credibility"? Medicare Creditable Coverage notices are among the hottest topics in employee benefits compliance today. In this month’s "Comply with Us" post, we explore why these notices are crucial and break down the methodologies available in 2025 to help employers determine the creditability status of their prescription drug plans. Read Now: https://lnkd.in/eK2SJC-h #Medicare #CreditableCoverage #Compliance #EmployeeBenefits #HealthPlans #BusinessLeadership #EmployerResponsibilities #MZQConsulting #BenefitCompliance

MZQ Consulting is proud to have an article about Fiduciary responsibilities in the inaugural edition of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP) magazine, “BIP”. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/exrGme_Q Jennifer Spiegel Berman, JD, MBA is pictured here (left) with NABIP National President (2024/25) Alycia Riedl.

Jennifer Spiegel Berman, JD, MBA, CEO of MZQ Consulting, will serve as 2024-25 NABIP National Legislative Chairperson. Shown here (left) with incoming NABIP National President Alycia Riedl.

Tune into the latest episode of The ShiftShapers Podcast featuring MZQ's Senior Compliance Officer, David Mordo! They discuss into the essential reporting requirements for employers regarding prescription drugs in the healthcare industry. Stay informed, stay compliant! For more details, drop us an email at engage@mzqconsulting.com or visit mzqconsulting.com #HealthcareCompliance #PrescriptionDrugs #ShiftShapersPodcast Tu

When you have a complicated problem to solve, you find an expert. America’s businesses with employer-sponsored medical plans have a complicated problem to solve, and the deadline is June 1st. The problem is RxDC, which stands for Prescription Drug Data Collection. RxDC applies to all employer-based health plans, whether fully insured or self-insured, regardless of size. Calculating and generating the reports is intimidating and often complex. Submitting the reports on the government’s HIOS system can be time-consuming and confusing. Employers who fail to comply with the reporting requirements may be penalized $100 per day per affected individual. As we enter the third reporting season, it's crucial to note that the RxDC problem requires expert handling by a firm specializing in compliance issues. We caution against relying on non-experts for assistance. There is too much at stake to trust RxDC reporting to any organization that doesn’t specialize in compliance. MZQ Compliance has been providing businesses and their advisors with expert, guided help since 2014. We are an ERISA attorney-led firm with dedicated specialists who will help you from gathering the necessary information to filing it with the government. To learn how the experts at MZQ can help solve their RxDC problem, contact your insurance advisor or email us at engage@mzqconsulting.com.

This is an awesome opportunity to join the best team around 😘!!

MZQ Consulting is proud to support the Ellevate Foundation in their continuing efforts to provide tools, resources, and events for existing and aspiring female leaders. Attending this year’s Women’s Leadership Summit will be two members of our senior leadership team, Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Everhart, CPP, PHR, SHRM-CP and Vice President of Client Development Jennifer LaTour, JD, MPS-HRER, CRHS.