ACOs make inroads with employers
Accountable care organizations promise better alignment of health care provider incentives and patient outcomes. Can ACOs revolutionize employer-sponsored health care?
Compliance
Benefits Think Frequently asked questions about private exchanges
Commentary: Benefit advisers and their employer clients continue to have questions about private exchanges. Blogger Dan Garlitz shares some recent FAQs fielded by exchange administrator bswift.
How withdrawal liability could be your employer clients biggest threat
Withdrawal liability is a seldom understood threat that could cost some of your employer clients tens of millions of dollars. Benefit advisers hoping to soften the blow can direct employers to do three things.
Ban the box laws gain momentum in Illinois, New Jersey
Hiring managers take note: State laws banning criminal background checks until after a candidate has been offered an interview are gaining momentum.
NARAB II passes Senate in key advancement
The bill that would establish a federal clearinghouse for state-by-state broker and agent licensing has successfully passed the U.S. Senate as an amendment to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, known as TRIA. It was previously left off another insurance industry bill at this point in the process.
Dangers of social media recruitment: Why benefits managers could be at risk
Commentary: In todays ubiquitous social media environment, employers face tremendous risks when utilizing social media as part of the hiring process. Even the most stringent recruitment process can become infiltrated with discriminatory practices, whether its intentional or not. Human resources professionals continue to struggle with this.
Varied response to EEOCs new pregnancy guidance
Released this week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions new enforcement guidance on how employers are to accommodate their pregnant workforce is creating mixed emotions from legal experts in the employment space.
CDHP confusion exposes need for adviser assistance, educational tools
An increase in the offering of consumer-driven health care products has not translated into increased understanding on the part of consumers exposing a need for more assistance from benefit professionals and educational tools.
Senators introduce bill to counteract Hobby Lobby decision
Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) on Tuesday introduced new legislation to counter the debated Supreme Court Hobby Lobby decision, which favored religious exemptions to certain contraception methods.
Benefits Think What kinds of HRAs are permitted post-ACA?
Commentary: While the rules are clear that employers cannot reimburse employees for coverage purchased on the Affordable Care Acts exchanges, broker David C. Smith explores questions about post-ACA reimbursement arrangements, particularly HRAs.
‘Aggressive’ compliance enforcement a top concern for employers
As reports of more DOL audits continue to spook benefit advisers into talking compliance with their clients, employers are confirming that they, too, are fearful of federal agencies monitoring.
Will minimum wage hikes impact employers?
Over the past two months, minimum wage increases have either been signed into law or enacted in states from coast to coast. With many more locales still considering changes, management and legal authorities recommend employers of all sizes and industry revisit their pay structures.
Why employers need ADA-compliant policies
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions vigorous zeal for employer compliance with the Americans with Disability Act is not showing any signs of letting up. As a result, legal advisers in the labor and employment field recommend that employers of all sizes conduct a thorough review of their policies and accommodations.
Why worry about ERISA?
If it smells like a benefit plan, you likely have to follow ERISA, said one speaker at the National Association of Health Underwriters annual convention in Scottsdale, Ariz. Here are some general tips benefit advisers need to know about complying with this law, for your clients and their employees alike.
10 ACA questions small employers should be asking
The majority of Americans, including many small business owners, are still confused about the health reform legislation, according to Health Partners America, a broker training and education organization. Here are 10 FAQs about the Affordable Care Act and its implications for small businesses.
By
Phil Albinus
A less-than-happy checkup
There are few smiles as the ACAs effect on dental coverage begins to be better understood. Coupling dental benefits with health care coverage may have unintended consequences and complicate access for employees.
ESOP fiduciaries not entitled to presumption of prudence
The president of the ESOP Association calls the Supreme Courts decision in Fifth Third Bancorp v. Dudenhoeffer a mish-mash and says he doesnt consider it to be a big victory for employers.
Benefits pros advised to find strategy, compliance sweet spot
Dealing with the compliance and regulatory challenges of the Affordable Care Act and other employment legislation hasnt left employers much time in recent years to deal with broader benefits strategy issues but the two areas compliance and strategy go hand-in-hand.
Critical checkpoint approaches for HIX fix in Mass.
When he ran for president in 1988, Michael Dukakis infused the phrase Massachusetts Miracle into stump speeches to describe the states economic transformation. That same description could apply if a costly and controversial plan to fix the states Connector exchange succeeds.
Benefits Think 5 tips to establish an internal controls system for 401(k) plan compliance
Recently, the Internal Revenue Service has focused enforcement activity on examining the implementation of a strong internal control system. The IRS has publicly stated that if a plan is selected for audit the agent will use their evaluation of the plans internal controls to determine whether the scope of the examination will be focused or expanded.