Many of the provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA), passed in late December 2020, are now effective in 2022. While carriers, vendors and other partners may handle the majority of the items, employers are ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with this legislation. It may require amending vendor contracts and is likely to increase plan expenses in the next several years. Here's what employers need to know to start their year right.

Who does the CAA apply to?

If you offer a group health plan, then the CAA applies. Whether fully insured or self-funded, don't be mistaken; you have the ultimate responsibility and liability to ensure compliance for your plan and members. If your plan is fully insured, the good news is that most of the heavy lifting will be done by the insurance carriers, but that doesn't let you, as the plan sponsor, off the proverbial hook.

Travis Turner is vice president of account management for Corporate Synergies and an expert in the mid-sized employer market, fully insured and self-insured funding arrangements and various lines of health and welfare coverage to provide optimal employee benefit solutions.