HSA Telehealth Relief Included in 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act

Congress recently passed a new government funding bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (“Act”).

The Act extends HSA telehealth relief. This relief allows high deductible health plans (“HDHPs”) to provide first-dollar services for telehealth and other remote care. The relief lasts from April 2022 through December 2022.

Previously introduced in the CARES Act, this relief means employers with HDHP plans can waive participant deductibles for any telehealth services without impacting those participant’s HSA eligibility. A similar provision in the CARES Act expired on December 31, 2021, so if employers choose to take advantage of this year’s relief, they will need to be aware that the provision will not apply retroactively in a calendar year plan. Deductible limits would still apply to any non-preventative telehealth services received between January 1, 2022 and March 31, 2022. As a reminder, the 2022 minimum deductible for a qualifying HDHP plan is $1,400 for single coverage and $2,800 for family coverage.

Although this is a COVID era provision, participants can use telehealth for any reason. This new relief is not mandatory for health plans. Self-insured employers should work with their TPA and stop-loss provider if they wish to implement this provision. Fully insured plans should contact their insurance carrier.

If you have any questions about how these guidelines will impact your plan, talk to your carrier and your OneDigital Consultant.