Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Does your computer’s spelling function auto-correct “HSA” to “HAS”? Mine used to, not recognizing that this abbreviation is no longer an error, but represents health savings accounts (HSAs), one type of consumer-directed health plan that is fast becoming mainstream in the health benefits industry. Health savings accounts couple a tax-favored savings account that is used […]
Editor’s note: For purposes of this article, we are going to assume you know the basics. If you don’t, read BLR’s previous news coverage here and here. Sponsors of 403(b) plans, we really, really hope that by now you know whether or not you need to file Form 5500 for the 2009 plan year and […]
Industry experts are saying health reform is helping promote the self-funding of health benefits, particularly among smaller employers, which can allow employers to get more of a say over benefits design and payment and help avoid a few reform obligations. Large insurers are, accordingly, betting on self-funding and seeing opportunity in administrative services only (ASO) […]
Premium subsidies for health insurance coverage under the Health Care Tax Credit (HCTC) program may get a boost due to an agreement being negotiated between the White House and Congress. The HCTC program was enacted as part of the Trade Act of 2002. As originally enacted, it provided a 65-percent tax credit for qualifying health […]
A three-judge panel from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals just upheld health reform’s controversial mandate that all individuals buy a minimum of health insurance or pay a penalty, saying that individual mandate is a valid exercise of Congress’ authority. This is the first appeals court ruling on such a challenge. … so 1-0 for […]
The kind of information exchange that’s necessary before and during a merger or acquisition can raise thorny HIPAA privacy issues, and federal guidance on the subject is sparse at best — especially for employers and other plan sponsors, Senior Editor David Slaughter writes. In such a transaction between companies that are themselves covered by HIPAA […]
In giving SHRM attendees four tips to promote healthy living among employees to help them lose weight, I’m sure corporate health strategist Adam Bordes was aware that many attending his session, “Lighten Up: Daily Strategies for a Lighter, Healthier Workplace” will be using these steps themselves – I certainly will. Bordes’ tips can be divided […]
Weight loss is the most searched term on Google, says corporate health strategist Adam Bordes, and similarly, helping employees lose weight is the most sought-after goal of corporate wellness programs. In “Lighten Up: Daily Strategies for a Lighter, Healthier Workplace,” he gave SHRM attendees several steps to help employees trim fat from their waistlines. Bordes, […]
New York State will become the sixth state where same-sex marriage is legal on July 24. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on June 24 signed the Marriage Equality Act (MEA) into law. Same-sex marriage already is legal in Massachusetts, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and the District of Columbia. The measure goes into effect one month […]
If you have not updated your plan documents to conform with the new rules for reimbursing the cost of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), time is almost up. You only have till June 30! Under the PPACA, only OTC drugs that have been prescribed may be reimbursed through […]