- The Labor Department released FAQs on the newly enacted COVID-19 emergency sick pay law. According to the FAQs the law takes effect on April 1.
- The Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2020-18 and related FAQs on the recent Treasury Department decision to move this year’s Tax Day from April to July 15. Remember that “this relief applies only to Federal income tax payments. State filing and payment deadlines vary and are not always the same as the Federal filing and payment deadline. [The IRS] urge[s] you to check with your state tax agencies for those details. More information is available at https://www.taxadmin.org/state-tax-agencies.
- The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Actuaries’ Office released the health care spending cost trend for the next ten years on Health Affairs. “National health expenditures are projected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.4 percent for 2019–28 and to represent 19.7 percent of gross domestic product by the end of the period. Price growth for medical goods and services is projected to accelerate, averaging 2.4 percent per year for 2019–28, which partly reflects faster expected growth in health-sector wages.”
- Last but not least the Office of Personnel Management released a final rule making self plus one coverage and contract matrix changes to its FEHB Acquisition Regulation, 48 C.F.R. Ch. 16. OPM also released “technical guidance” to FEHB carriers on the preparation of 2021 benefit and rate proposals due May 31, 2021.
Government Guidance Tuesday
