Wednesday, August 7, 2019

PREVENTATIVE CARE BENEFITS ENHANCED FOR HSA PARTICIPANTS

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a notice that expands preventative care benefits for high deductible health plans.  Prior to this notice, care and services for an existing or chronic condition were not included as preventative. The IRS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determined that certain medical care services received and items purchased, including prescription drugs for certain chronic conditions, should be classified as preventative care.
These medical services and items are limited to the specific medical care services or items listed for the associated chronic conditions specified in Notice 2019-45. The treasury has noted that each medical service, when prescribed for an individual with the related chronic condition, should be characterized by the following:
  • The service or item is low-cost.
  • There is medical evidence supporting high-cost efficiency (a large expected impact) of preventing exacerbation of the chronic condition or the development of a secondary condition.
  • There is a strong likelihood, documented by clinical evidence, that with respect to the class of individuals prescribed the item or service, the specific service or use of the item will prevent the exacerbation of the chronic condition or the development of a secondary condition that requires significantly higher-cost treatments.

Any medical care previously recognized as preventive care for these rules is still treated as preventive care.
From BenefitMall August 7, 2019