An IRS compensation rule aimed at health insurers could actually apply to a wide range of companies.

It is well known that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, or the federal health care reform law) significantly limits the ability of health insurance companies to deduct payment of compensation beginning in 2013.  What is not so well known is that the Internal Revenue Service might apply this limitation to health care services providers that are not typically considered to be insurance companies, to captive insurance companies, and even to companies outside the health insurance industry.