Employer Reporting –
Medicare Part D Notice Reminder:
Articles
Legislation Introduced to Simplify Employer Reporting
Friday, October 13, 2017
As employers prepare for the third year of ACA-related reporting, new bipartisan legislation has been proposed that provides a glimmer of hope for the possibility that changes will be made to current IRS requirements. The “Commonsense Reporting Act of 2017,” introduced by Senators Portman (R-OH) and Warner (D-VA), would significantly simplify ACA-related employer reporting. Background […]
Employer Reporting –
2017 FINAL Forms and Instructions
Thursday, October 5, 2017
The IRS has released the 2017 final forms and instructions for the ACA employer reporting requirement.
Graham-Cassidy Update: Senate Tries to Repeal the ACA One More Time
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
On September 13, 2017, Senate Republicans introduced a bill (referred to as The Graham-Cassidy bill) to try, one more time, to repeal and replace portions of the ACA.
Common Gaps in Disability Insurance
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Disability insurance can be even more important for manufacturing companies than other employers. Manufacturing organizations typically have an older population with long tenure and employees historically suffer with chronic conditions. Employees usually experience higher than average musculoskeletal incidence and absenteeism due to the nature and repetitive motion of their jobs.
Wellness Program Updates
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
New developments have arisen in the wellness area recently. One recent court case challenges the validity of the final regulations, and another alleges that Macy’s failed to comply with the final rules. The final rules establish how a wellness program should be structured to avoid violating nondiscrimination rules under HIPAA, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
Medicare Part D Notice Reminder:
Deadline of October 14th
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Employers with group health plans that provide prescription drug coverage to individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part D must comply with certain disclosure requirements.
Group health plan sponsors must disclose to individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part D whether their prescription drug coverage is at least as good as the Medicare Part D coverage (in other words, whether their prescription drug coverage is “creditable”). These disclosures must be provided each year prior to Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, and at certain other designated times. The annual open enrollment period for Medicare Part D is October 15th through December 7th, so notices must be provided by October 14th.
Employer Reporting – 2017 Draft Forms and Instructions
Monday, September 11, 2017
The IRS released the 2017 draft forms and instructions for the ACA employer reporting requirement. The 2017 draft forms and instructions are very similar to those used for 2016. Given that they have only minor changes (along with a few clarifications of existing requirements), the most significant change is the deletion throughout of anything referring […]
6 Common Gaffes to Avoid When Considering a Self-Funded Plan
Monday, September 11, 2017
Self-funding is a common method for employers over 100 employees to avoid the costs of a fully insured medical plan. A fully insured plan takes all of the claims risk from an employer group to the insurance company and collects a premium to do so.
Are You Prepared for a Legionnaires’ Outbreak?
Friday, September 8, 2017
Legionnaires’ disease is a condition that our healthcare organizations do not frequently encounter, yet the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that between 8,000 – 18,000 people a year are hospitalized with this disease, and more than 10 percent of the cases are fatal3.
Cyber Insurance Protects Company and Client From Attacks
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Every week we hear of a new virus, hack, or ransomware that threatens our business operations or employee or client information.
Wellness Runs in Manufacturing Industry
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Each segment of the manufacturing industry has a major issue forefront in their budget process: the rising costs of healthcare. These increasing healthcare costs are the number one concern right in front of unfavorable business conditions, according to the most recent survey from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).
IRS Decreases ACA “Affordability” Percentage
Thursday, August 31, 2017
The IRS issued guidance in Revenue Procedure 2017-36 that decreases the percentage from 9.69% to 9.56% for purposes of determining the affordability of employer-sponsored group health coverage in 2018. This percentage affects which applicable large employers may face potential penalties under §4980H(b) for failure to provide affordable coverage and which individuals may qualify for subsidized coverage through a public Exchange (Marketplace).
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