Cynthia Lee, Author at Spotlight on Benefits

As noted in our prior blog post, on April 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Final Rule updating certain Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules with respect to the disclosure of protected health information (PHI) related to reproductive health care (the 2024 Rule). The 2024 Rule was aimed at prohibiting covered entities from using or disclosing PHI to conduct criminal, civil or administrative investigations, or to impose corresponding liability on a person seeking or providing lawful reproductive health care. HHS issued the 2024 Rule in response to the chilling effect the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization¹ decision striking down Roe v. Wade was expected to have on women seeking reproductive health care advice and procedures in certain states.

Continue reading “HIPAA Reproductive Health Care Privacy Rule Vacated”

On July 4, 2025, the Trump administration signed into law the final version of H.R. 1- One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). The OBBB includes various changes that affect employee benefits, including an optional increase to the annual amount an employer can allow an employee to contribute on a tax-favored basis to their dependent care assistance program/flexible spending account (FSA).

For plan years starting on or after January 1, 2026, the maximum dependent care FSA contribution limit will increase from $5,000 to $7,500 a year (and from $2,500 to $3,750 per year if married and filing taxes separately). This new dependent care FSA contribution limit is not indexed for inflation.

Continue reading “Increase to Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Limit”