Healthcare plans

Few programs can provide hard data or credible testimonials showing that they solidly improve health outcomes for employees or cost for benefit plan sponsors.

The Northeast Business Group on Health says digital tools can make a difference in controlling chronic conditions among employees.

Affordable Care Act’s loopholes and inefficiencies are creating losses among carriers and they, in turn, are pressing advisers, says Sally Pipes, president and CEO of the Pacific Research Institute.

The key issue for benefit plan sponsors in Zubik v. Burwell is whether the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive-coverage mandate requirements and its accommodation violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Employers can take immediate steps to help hospitals ensure that employees, dependents — and all patients — are in better shape after they leave the hospital than when they went in.

Faced with rising insurance premiums, employees are poised to change the rules of the game by demanding cost transparency and quality information, says adviser Mark Gaunya.

The looming Cadillac tax is causing clients to be cautious when it comes to contributing to workers’ health savings accounts.

Plan sponsors can take immediate steps to help hospitals ensure that employees, dependents -- and all patients –are in better shape after they leave the hospital than when they went in.

With rising healthcare costs hurting employers, adviser Mark Gaunya says it’s time for quality reform.

Benefit plan sponsors continue to evaluate the best-use scenarios for PBEs, says exchange head James Harmon.

Tiered incentives may encourage more workers to get active, but for employers they represent an increase in administrative overhead, says David Contorno, CEO of Lake Norman Benefits.

How the concept of paying employees to encourage certain behaviors is making its way into other areas of benefits that advisers need to know about.

Employers and advisers continue to evaluate the best-use scenarios for PBEs, says exchange head James Harmon.

From the ACA to employee classification, advisers can help small employers with a number of pressing regulatory issues.

Generic drugs are usually significantly cheaper for plan sponsors than brand-name drugs. Here’s a look at 10 drugs coming off patent in 2016. And although the FDA hasn’t yet approved generics for many of the following blockbuster drugs that are coming off patent this year, in most cases there are generics in the pipeline, according to Dickson Data Blog.

Looking over SOCs will help assess what controls are in place and ensure a client’s benefit plans meets ERISA guidelines.

Employees are bombarded with information about health, yet Americans are getting heavier. For employers, this translates into higher healthcare costs, increased sick days and reduced productivity.

Michael Thompson discusses how the National Business Coalition on Health plans to address consolidation in the benefits industry and a proposal for a well-being institute.

Cost control and fiduciary duty are two main reasons to consider conducting a dependent eligibility verification audit.

The looming Cadillac tax is causing companies to be cautious when it comes to contributing to workers’ health savings accounts.