A recent IRS proposal would enable workers to use ordinary health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to pay for direct primary care program memberships. In addition to giving workers the peace of mind in knowing they can fix the costs of primary care, the proposal would help primary care doctors reduce the time and money they spend on administrative work and make them far more efficient.

The IRS says this would be accomplished by declaring that payments for direct primary care arrangements and healthcare cost sharing ministry memberships are expenses for medical care under Internal Revenue Code Section 213. While this step will have a significant impact on healthcare providers and payers, there are sure to be many questions asked within the health benefits industry. The period for comments on this proposal will run through August 10, 2020.

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