Lance's Corner

Benefits.gov Issues Newsletter

Apr 5, 2024

The federal benefits Web site, Benefits.gov, has issued its newsletter on accessing various government benefits.  You can read the Benefits.gov newsletter below.

Mature woman in a bright kitchen prepares her federal tax returns using a laptop

Federal Tax Return Resources

It’s tax season!  This may not be the most exciting time of the year, but submitting our federal tax returns is a critical part of our civic duty.  Taxes help fund the programs and resources we require in a modern society, such as social welfare programs, infrastructure maintenance, education, and much more.  

Luckily, our Benefits.gov Partner, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), has plenty of resources to help you meet the April 15 deadline.

File Your Return for Free with the IRS

Taxes may not be new, but modern technology has made taxes easier than ever.  The IRS now offers simple and secure ways to file your tax returns online, including Direct File and Free File.

Direct File: Direct File is a new tax filing service introduced by the IRS that allows eligible taxpayers living in certain states to file their federal income tax returns for free, directly with the IRS.  Currently launched as a pilot program, the IRS is encouraging participants from 12 states to test out the new online platform. 

Taxpayers filing simple federal tax returns in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming can access free step-by-step tax prep with live online support.  Direct File is available in both English and Spanish and there is no income limit to participate.  

Check Your Direct File Eligibility 

Free File: IRS Free File is a public-private partnership that lets qualified taxpayers prepare and file federal income tax returns online using guided tax preparation software.  It’s safe, easy, and free.  Unlike Direct File, Free file is only available to those who earned less than $79,000 in the relevant tax year.  Those who don’t qualify can still use Free File’s fillable forms, but they will not be able to submit their returns through the commercial tax prep software for free.

Learn More About IRS Free File

Discover Tax Credits

Tax credits and deductions are available to eligible taxpayers to help either lower your tax bill or increase your refund.  These credits relate to a variety of life events and scenarios, including dependent care, healthcare, home expenses, work-related expenses, and more. 

The most common credits that may benefit taxpayers include the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit.  

Earned Income Tax Credit: The Earned Income Tax Credit helps low- to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break.  To claim this credit, you must have worked in the relevant tax year and earned less than $63,398. 

Check if You Qualify

Child Tax Credit: The Child Tax Credit is critical for families with children, and can be applied to each qualifying child in the home.  To qualify for this credit your child must be under 17 years of age, have lived with you at least half the year, and was claimed properly as a dependent in your tax returns.  

Review Eligibility Requirements

New Credits from the Inflation Reduction Act

Following the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the federal government now provides new and extended credits and deductions for individuals and businesses.  These new credits focus heavily on improving an individuals’ credit and providing incentives for energy-efficient vehicles and home improvements.

 

Find More Tax Resources from IRS

Filing your taxes may not be fun, but there is support available to ensure you can file your returns securely, efficiently, and correctly.  If you have questions about your federal income tax return, check out the IRS Help Center.  They have support available online, by phone, or in person.

USDOL Issues Comprehensive Employer Guidance on Long COVID

The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has issued a comprehensive set of resources that can be accessed below for employers on dealing with Long COVID.

Supporting Employees with Long COVID: A Guide for Employers

The “Supporting Employees with Long COVID” guide from the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and Job Accommodation Network (JAN) addresses the basics of Long COVID, including its intersection with mental health, and common workplace supports for different symptoms.  It also explores employers’ responsibilities to provide reasonable accommodations and answers frequently asked questions about Long COVID and employment, including inquiries related to telework and leave.

Download the guide

Accommodation and Compliance: Long COVID

The Long COVID Accommodation and Compliance webpage from the USDOL-funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN) helps employers and employees understand strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID.  Topics include Long COVID in the context of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specific accommodation ideas based on limitations or work-related functions, common situations and solutions, and questions to consider when identifying effective accommodations for employees with Long COVID.  Find this and other Long COVID resources from JAN, below:

Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities: Recommendations for Employers

The research-to-practice brief “Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities” synthesizes an extensive review of documents, literature and data sources, conducted by the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) on the impact of Long COVID on employment, with a focus on demographic differences.  It also outlines recommended actions organizations can take to create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture for people with Long COVID, especially those with disabilities who belong to other historically underserved groups.

Read the brief

Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace

The policy brief “Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace” explores Long COVID’s impact on the workforce and provides examples of policy actions different states are taking to help affected people remain at work or return when ready.  It was developed by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as part of its involvement in USDOL’s State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) initiative.

Download the policy brief

Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID

The report “Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” summarizes key themes and takeaways from an ePolicyWorks national online dialogue through which members of the public were invited to share their experiences and insights regarding workplace challenges posed by Long COVID.  The dialogue took place during summer 2022 and was hosted by USDOL and its agencies in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Download the report

Working with Long COVID

The USDOL-published “Working with Long COVID” fact sheet shares strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID, including accommodations for common symptoms and resources for further guidance and assistance with specific situations.

Download the fact sheet

COVID-19: Long-Term Symptoms

This USDOL motion graphic informs workers with Long COVID that they may be entitled to temporary or long-term supports to help them stay on the job or return to work when ready, and shares where they can find related assistance.

Watch the motion graphic

A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure

In the podcast “A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure,” Pam Bingham, senior program manager for Intuit’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Tech team, shares her personal experience of navigating Long COVID symptoms at work.  The segment was produced by the USDOL-funded Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) as part of its ongoing “Future of Work” podcast series.

Listen to the podcast

HHS OIG Issues Annual Report on State MFCUs

Per the notice below, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued its annual report on the performance of state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs).

Medicaid Fraud Control Units Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report (OEI-09-24-00200) 

Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect. OIG is the Federal agency that oversees and annually approves federal funding for MFCUs through a recertification process. This new report analyzed the statistical data on annual case outcomes—such as convictions, civil settlements and judgments, and recoveries—that the 53 MFCUs submitted for Fiscal Year 2023.  New York data is as follows:

Outcomes

  • Investigations1 - 556
  • Indicted/Charged - 9
  • Convictions - 8
  • Civil Settlements/Judgments - 28
  • Recoveries2 - $73,204,518

Resources

  • MFCU Expenditures3 - $55,964,293
  • Staff on Board4 - 257

1Investigations are defined as the total number of open investigations at the end of the fiscal year.

2Recoveries are defined as the amount of money that defendants are required to pay as a result of a settlement, judgment, or prefiling settlement in criminal and civil cases and may not reflect actual collections.  Recoveries may involve cases that include participation by other Federal and State agencies.

3MFCU and Medicaid Expenditures include both State and Federal expenditures.

4Staff on Board is defined as the total number of staff employed by the Unit at the end of the fiscal year.

Read the Full Report

View the Statistical Chart

Engage with the Interactive Map

GAO Issues Report on Medicaid Managed Care Service Denials and Appeal Outcomes

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes.  GAO found that federal oversight is limited because it doesn't require states to report on Medicaid managed care service denials or appeal outcomes and there has not been much progress on plans to analyze and make the data publicly available.  To read the GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the first link below.  To read GAO highlights of the report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the second link below.
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627.pdf  (GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627_high.pdf  (GAO highlights on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)

CMS Issues Latest Medicare Regulatory Activities Update

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its latest update on its regulatory activities in the Medicare program.  While dentistry is only minimally connected to the Medicare program, Medicare drives the majority of health care policies and insurance reimbursement policies throughout the country.  Therefore, it always pays to keep a close eye on what CMS is doing in Medicare.  To read the latest CMS update on its regulatory activities in Medicare, use the link below.
https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/2024-03-14-mlnc