HSA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a disaster declaration on April 7, 2023, for severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes in Tennessee, for the incident period of March 31, 2023 – April 1, 2023.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a disaster declaration on April 4, 2023, for a severe winter storm in Arkansas, for the incident period of January 30, 2023 – February 2, 2023.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a disaster declaration on April 3, 2023, for severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in California, for the incident period of February 21, 2023, and continuing.

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) and National Emergency, numerous requirements were introduced for group health plans, which were generally aimed at ensuring individuals did not forgo testing or treatment for COVID-19 because they could not afford to pay for such services.

Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE), along with several co-sponsors have re-introduced the Homecare for Seniors Act — a bill that would allow funds to be used from health savings accounts (HSAs) for qualified home care services.

The IRS has posted a series of frequently asked questions addressing whether certain costs related to nutrition, wellness, and general health are medical expenses under Internal Revenue Code Section 213 that may be paid or reimbursed under a health savings account, health flexible spending arrangement, Archer medical savings account, or health reimbursement arrangement.

Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) has reintroduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act in the House.

Sen. John Kennedy, (R-La), has introduced the Telehealth HSA Act. The Act would make permanent the ability of high deductible health plans (HDHPs) to waive the deductible for telehealth services without causing plan participants to lose the ability to contribute to a health savings account (HSA).

The IRS has released final regulations amending rules intended to increase the filing of electronic returns in accordance with the Taxpayer First Act of 2019.

Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has introduced H.R. 107, the Freedom for Families Act, which proposes the following.

• Provide that distributions from health savings accounts (HSAs) during periods of qualified caregiving are not includible in gross income
• Remove the requirement that an individual be covered under a high deductible health plan in order to contribute to an HSA
• Increase the annual contributions limits to $9,000 for single coverage and $18,000 for family coverage

Under the proposal, periods of qualified caregiving are defined as any period during which an individual is on leave or not employed because of the following reasons.

• Birth of the employee’s child and the period required to care for such child
• Placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care
• Caring for the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent, because of a serious health condition
• A serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of her position
• Certain emergencies as a result of covered active duty or notification of order to covered active duty in the Armed Forces by the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.