Employer Strategies

The National Committee for Quality Assurance recently issued new standards for its Patient-Centered Medical Home program. More than 7,700 clinicians at 1,500 sites use existing standards from Washington-based NCQA in their medical home initiatives.

As employers start to conduct cost-benefit analysis on providing health insurance under the health law, they should also study some proposals by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (NCFRR).

Employers are expected to invest more money to protect personal information in response to increased government regulation and enforcement and to stem the rising tide of risk, according to a new report released by Ernst & Young.

Small-business managers are expecting hiring activity within their organizations to improve in 2011, according to a new survey. However, they say it will likely be hindered by continued challenges related to accessing credit, government regulations and health insurance costs.

The Great Place to Work Institute and Fortune magazine recently released the 100 best companies to work for list, which also lauds employers that went the extra mile to deliver unusual perks within their benefits programs.

In Nelson v. NASA, the Supreme Court ruled that public employers may ask comprehensive background questions of employees.

The latest news on industry movers and shakers concerns one seasoned executive’s career move and a veteran disability insurance agent earning kudos for his staff from a leading carrier for a thirteenth consecutive year.

The voluntary benefits bandwidth for independent insurance agents and brokers is growing, thanks to a recent industry partnership.

Be sure to mark your calendar for a series of online educational forums in 2011 on disability and absence management co-presented by two industry leaders.

Nothing in life is guaranteed, but working Americans increasingly are in search of flexible income-protection products that will offset market volatility.