This document outlines 26 important employee benefits issues ("ABCs") that need attention in 2016, as summarized by Ed Bray. It discusses key actions and considerations regarding Affordable Care Act compliance and reporting, benefits strategies and costs, technology spending, same-sex marriage implications, and ensuring compliance with various other regulations. It emphasizes preparing for ongoing changes, communicating proactively with employees, and leveraging external support and wellness programs to help manage rising costs.
Good Governance Practices for 501(c)(3) Organizations PYA, P.C.
PYA Tax Manager Elizabeth Wright presented “Good Governance Practices for 501(c)(3) Organizations” at the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA) Luncheon in Knoxville, TN. The presentation provides an overview of good governance practices to assist any size 501(c)(3) organization in complying with IRS governance guidelines.
PYA Healthcare Consulting Senior Manager Robert Mundy co-presented during, “Valuing Hospitals,” Thursday, July 31, at 1 p.m. EST. This webinar explores the changing world of hospital economics, regulations, and valuations and how appraisers can best prepare themselves for both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Good Governance Practices for 501(c)(3) Organizations PYA, P.C.
PYA Tax Manager Elizabeth Wright presented “Good Governance Practices for 501(c)(3) Organizations” at the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA) Luncheon in Knoxville, TN. The presentation provides an overview of good governance practices to assist any size 501(c)(3) organization in complying with IRS governance guidelines.
PYA Healthcare Consulting Senior Manager Robert Mundy co-presented during, “Valuing Hospitals,” Thursday, July 31, at 1 p.m. EST. This webinar explores the changing world of hospital economics, regulations, and valuations and how appraisers can best prepare themselves for both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Presentation Covers Physician Practice CompliancePYA, P.C.
PYA Consulting Manager Valerie Rock presented “Compliance in the Physician Practice.” She discussed the importance of having a compliance plan, coding and billing monitoring, audit schedules, and provider expectations.
Big Data: Implications of Data Mining for Employed Physician Compliance Manag...PYA, P.C.
PYA Principal Denise Hall presented “Big Data: Implications of Data Mining for Employed Physician Compliance Management” at Becker’s Annual CEO & CIO Strategy Roundtables, November 18-19, 2015.
The presentation explored:
Data being aggregated by the government, as well as new approaches by regulators.
Public relations and litigation risk from the public dissemination of data by the government.
Big data connections to payment through quality metrics and the potential for new theories of False Claims Act (FCA) suits.
Internal use of broad spectrum analytics in employed physician compliance management.
Determination of risk tolerance and the customization of “outside the box” analytics.
Benchmarking, monitoring, and defining physician-focused risk area reviews.
PYA Principal Jim Lloyd was among the faculty who spoke at the 2013 Mid-South Commercial Law Institute during a panel discussion on “Healthcare Facilities in Bankruptcy.” The presentation provided an overview of healthcare facilities and key issues, healthcare regulatory environment, valuation of healthcare facilities, and red flags for healthcare businesses in bankruptcy or distress.
PYA Presentation: “Thorny Issues in FMV and Commercial Reasonableness"PYA, P.C.
PYA Principals Jim Lloyd and Lyle Oelrich presented "Thorny Issues in Fair Market Value and Commercial Reasonableness" at the Greater Kansas City Society of Healthcare Attorneys, Wednesday, April 16, 2014.
The Affordable Care Act and Its Impact on Workers’ CompensationCognizant
While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is expected to reduce the number of uninsured and improve personal wellness in the U.S., the law's changes in workforce definitions will significantly impact workforce dynamics, employee hiring, employers' benefits strategies and wellness programs -- requiring a reevaluation of how workers' compensation is accounted for and delivered.
Presentation Uncovers Trends in the Unpredictable Healthcare IndustryPYA, P.C.
With the healthcare industry in a state of flux, not much is known about what lies ahead; but trends across the industry have become apparent and are likely to stick. These trends were the subject of a presentation given by PYA Principal David McMillan at the PKF North America Healthcare Fly-In.
Presentation Offers Valuation Strategies for Tax-Effective Practice TransactionsPYA, P.C.
PYA Principal Jim Lloyd co-presented a session at the 2013 AICPA Healthcare Industry Conference in New Orleans on “Valuation Strategies for More Tax-Effective Physician/Dentist Practice Transactions.”
What decisions should you make for your business related to ObamaCare and HealthCare Reform?
The Roadmap & Decision Tree (pages 9 & 10) help to simplify and help you zero in on what you need to do.
If you have 49 or fewer employees...
If you have 50 or more employees...
This will help make your path clear.
PYA Principal Carol Carden presented on current issues in healthcare valuation at The Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Business Valuation, Forensic, and Litigation Services Conference at the Hilton Fort Worth, October 14, 2014.
Accounting Update Overview with a Healthcare SlantPYA, P.C.
PYA Principal and Director of Audit Services Doug Arnold presented during East Tennessee State University’s 38th Annual Accounting, Auditing, and Tax Updating CPE conference. His presentation covered many recent Accounting Standards Updates, but leaned toward their applications in healthcare.
Real World Issues with Implementing Compliant Financial Assistance and Billin...PYA, P.C.
PYA co-presented “Real World Issues with Implementing Compliant Financial Assistance and Billing and Collection Policies” at the 2014 AHLA Tax Issues for Health Care Organizations program.
Presentation Covers Physician Practice CompliancePYA, P.C.
PYA Consulting Manager Valerie Rock presented “Compliance in the Physician Practice.” She discussed the importance of having a compliance plan, coding and billing monitoring, audit schedules, and provider expectations.
Big Data: Implications of Data Mining for Employed Physician Compliance Manag...PYA, P.C.
PYA Principal Denise Hall presented “Big Data: Implications of Data Mining for Employed Physician Compliance Management” at Becker’s Annual CEO & CIO Strategy Roundtables, November 18-19, 2015.
The presentation explored:
Data being aggregated by the government, as well as new approaches by regulators.
Public relations and litigation risk from the public dissemination of data by the government.
Big data connections to payment through quality metrics and the potential for new theories of False Claims Act (FCA) suits.
Internal use of broad spectrum analytics in employed physician compliance management.
Determination of risk tolerance and the customization of “outside the box” analytics.
Benchmarking, monitoring, and defining physician-focused risk area reviews.
PYA Principal Jim Lloyd was among the faculty who spoke at the 2013 Mid-South Commercial Law Institute during a panel discussion on “Healthcare Facilities in Bankruptcy.” The presentation provided an overview of healthcare facilities and key issues, healthcare regulatory environment, valuation of healthcare facilities, and red flags for healthcare businesses in bankruptcy or distress.
PYA Presentation: “Thorny Issues in FMV and Commercial Reasonableness"PYA, P.C.
PYA Principals Jim Lloyd and Lyle Oelrich presented "Thorny Issues in Fair Market Value and Commercial Reasonableness" at the Greater Kansas City Society of Healthcare Attorneys, Wednesday, April 16, 2014.
The Affordable Care Act and Its Impact on Workers’ CompensationCognizant
While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is expected to reduce the number of uninsured and improve personal wellness in the U.S., the law's changes in workforce definitions will significantly impact workforce dynamics, employee hiring, employers' benefits strategies and wellness programs -- requiring a reevaluation of how workers' compensation is accounted for and delivered.
Presentation Uncovers Trends in the Unpredictable Healthcare IndustryPYA, P.C.
With the healthcare industry in a state of flux, not much is known about what lies ahead; but trends across the industry have become apparent and are likely to stick. These trends were the subject of a presentation given by PYA Principal David McMillan at the PKF North America Healthcare Fly-In.
Presentation Offers Valuation Strategies for Tax-Effective Practice TransactionsPYA, P.C.
PYA Principal Jim Lloyd co-presented a session at the 2013 AICPA Healthcare Industry Conference in New Orleans on “Valuation Strategies for More Tax-Effective Physician/Dentist Practice Transactions.”
What decisions should you make for your business related to ObamaCare and HealthCare Reform?
The Roadmap & Decision Tree (pages 9 & 10) help to simplify and help you zero in on what you need to do.
If you have 49 or fewer employees...
If you have 50 or more employees...
This will help make your path clear.
PYA Principal Carol Carden presented on current issues in healthcare valuation at The Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Business Valuation, Forensic, and Litigation Services Conference at the Hilton Fort Worth, October 14, 2014.
Accounting Update Overview with a Healthcare SlantPYA, P.C.
PYA Principal and Director of Audit Services Doug Arnold presented during East Tennessee State University’s 38th Annual Accounting, Auditing, and Tax Updating CPE conference. His presentation covered many recent Accounting Standards Updates, but leaned toward their applications in healthcare.
Real World Issues with Implementing Compliant Financial Assistance and Billin...PYA, P.C.
PYA co-presented “Real World Issues with Implementing Compliant Financial Assistance and Billing and Collection Policies” at the 2014 AHLA Tax Issues for Health Care Organizations program.
Groupon and the SEC Case Study - (1) Sources important to investment decision; (2) future business prospect; (3) Groupon's accounting tell us about accounting; and (4) Groupon's accounting tell us about accounting.
With Open Enrollment upon us, employers, employees, benefit advisors, and more are looking for new ways to help meet the needs of engaged healthcare consumers. But what will drive the industry this year? We share the top five trends that will help to create a beneficial health insurance selection environment throughout the healthcare continuum.
Special Health Care Reform Edition of BIZGrowth Strategies NewsletterCBIZ, Inc.
Be sure to check out the Special Health Care Reform Edition of BIZGrowth Strategies Newsletter. Article topics include Private Exchanges, Health Care Reform's Impact on Compensation, the Shared Responsibility Penalty's Effect on Worker Classification, How to Manage Change during these Times and How the ACA Affects Your Payroll System.
HR Webinar: The Affordable Care Act Turns 10 Years Old: Where to From Here?Ascentis
Happy Birthday, ACA! Ten years ago, on March 23, 2010, the ACA was signed into law. Adding an unprecedented level of consumer protections and minimum quality standards to the health insurance Americans use, the law was and remains controversial to this day. In fact, the rate of uninsured nonelderly Americans dropped from a high of 17.8% in 2010, to 10.0% in 2016. The cancelation of the individual mandate, among other factors, has started to reverse that trend, with increases in the uninsured rates in 2017 and 2018. As the ACA celebrates its tenth birthday, it has something else to celebrate: its highest approval rate since public opinion polls began tracking it: 55% favorable opinion vs. just 37% unfavorable opinion.
As an HR professional, always busy with a hundred other people priorities at your company, it is hard to keep up with the ever-changing laws in the health insurance industry, and specifically, the ACA. With the law predicted to head to the Supreme Court soon for the third review of its fundamental constitutionality, receiving real-time updates becomes even more important. See what has changed in the ACA, looking at where it started to where it is now in this webinar!
ACA Healthcare legislation and attempts at increasing regulation of self-funding and stop loss coverage are driving more employers toward stop loss captives.
Part I Comparing Accreditation Standards Across Health Care Settin.docxdanhaley45372
Part I Comparing Accreditation Standards Across Health Care Settings
Standards that address appropriate documentation of patient care and effective management of health information can be found among accrediting bodies at each level of health care. While the standards cover the same area, their scope and requirements for compliance can vary widely.
Review the standards for authentication (signing) and timeliness of medical record entries for acute care hospitals, ambulatory facilities, long-term care facilities and mental health hospitals. Create a table to compare and contrast the standards, select which accrediting body’s standard you would recommend if only one standard could be applied to all health care delivery systems and support the reason for your selection. where you describe the corresponding standard for each type of facility. Address these at a minimum the “criteria” below in your table:
1. Are there requirements that are the same for each standard?
2. Which clinical staffs are allowed to make entries in the medical record in each type of facility? (e.g. physician, nurse, physician assistant)
3. Which accreditation standards address the use of electronic signatures?
4. Explain how the standards differ in terms of type of the entries that should be authenticated (i.e. consultations, procedure notes, progress notes).
5. How is compliance with each standard to be evaluated (e.g. medical record audit, summary reports)?
Part II Transitioning from Conditions of Participation to Joint Commission Standards
A healthcare facility is interested in pursuing Joint Commission accreditation. Senior management has asked departments to submit reports about implementation of applicable Joint Commission standards in their areas of responsibility. You are the HIM director who will draft a report for implementation of procedures to comply with standards related to Information Management (IM) and Record of Care, Treatment and Services (RC). Using the terms below do an internet search to locate the standards and Condition of Participation needed. Create a document, spreadsheet or table that compares the COP and Joint Commission standards, and address differences in preparation (e.g. accreditation cycles, resources needed) and training and preparing of staff. The report should also include how compliance is reported to and monitored by the Joint Commission.
Joint Commission Standard IM
Joint Commission Standard RC
Conditions of Participation 42 CFR 482.24 Medical Record Services
Submit an Annotated Bibliography with a minimum of 4 proposed sources for your project. Remember to use sources acceptable for academic papers. (Wikipedia is not an academically acceptable source.)
For guidelines on what goes into an annotated bibliography, click the linked document below. Note that your annotated bibliography should include your citation in APA format followed by:
· 2-4 sentences that summarize the main idea(s) of the source.
· 1-2 sentences that evaluate th.
Similar to EBN Feb 2016 The ABCs of Employee Benefits (20)
Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies in the
United States, was recently the victim of a massive cyber
attack—an attack that may have compromised the personal
information of 143 million people.
The 2017 B&I Webinar calendar is here! Each month CBIZ hosts a benefits-related webinar with innovative strategies for developing the best health care plan for your growing organization. Sign up for a webinar today!
Health Reform Bulletin 116 Year End Wrap Up 12-29-15Daniel Michels
The most recent CBIZ Health Reform Bulletin: Year-End Wrap Up (HRB 116). This issue includes specific information and guidance on:
1. Late breaking development, IRS delays new Affordable Care Act's (ACA) reporting and disclosure obligations!
2. On December 18, 2015 Consolidate Appropriations Act, 2016, and the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 (H. R. 2029; now Public Law No. 114-113) were signed by the President, and amend several provisions of the Affordable Care Act.
3. The IRS Issued guidance relating to ACA implementation
4. Year-End Reminders
The new At Issue bulletin is here! This yearly bulletin highlights happenings of CBIZ Benefits & Insurance and relevant changes to policies over the year of 2015.
Articles in this edition are:
- Overview of 2015
- Quick Review of New Federal Laws
- DOL Assists States Establishing Savings Programs
- Proposed Changes to ERISA’s Disability Claims and Appeal Process
- More IRS Guidance on Application of Same-sex Marriage to Benefit Plans
- 2016 Benefit Plan Limits and Cost of Living Adjustments
- Year-end Reminders
- Annual Notice Reminders
Substance abuse is often an area that is overlooked when considering the value of total Wellbeing programs – i.e. justification for investing in workplace education and support programs.
How is wellbeing related to engagement? These studies show how! Source: Gallup (2013), "State of The American Workplace: Employee Engagement Insights for US Business Leaders"
CBIZ's very own Todd Hanson is featured in the November edition of the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal. Read the panelists' expert opinions about current issues surrounding health care including benefits, mobile health, health education, aca compliance, and more!
Panelists include Todd Hanson, director of client services at CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services; Jesse Berg, an attorney specializing in health care law at Gray Plant Mooty; John Soshnik, a partner in the health law group at Lindquist & Vennum; Becca Miller, director of employer solutions at Capella Education Co.; and Steven Rush, director of health literacy innovations at UnitedHealth Group Inc. Allison O’Toole, interim CEO at MNsure, served as moderator.
The Wellbeing Insights newsletter is a monthly publication produced by CBIZ Wellness Solutions. Click to read this month's edition with great wellness features including:
- National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- On the Menu: Pumpkins
- Flu Shot Myth Buster
- And more!
Falcon stands out as a top-tier P2P Invoice Discounting platform in India, bridging esteemed blue-chip companies and eager investors. Our goal is to transform the investment landscape in India by establishing a comprehensive destination for borrowers and investors with diverse profiles and needs, all while minimizing risk. What sets Falcon apart is the elimination of intermediaries such as commercial banks and depository institutions, allowing investors to enjoy higher yields.
Implicitly or explicitly all competing businesses employ a strategy to select a mix
of marketing resources. Formulating such competitive strategies fundamentally
involves recognizing relationships between elements of the marketing mix (e.g.,
price and product quality), as well as assessing competitive and market conditions
(i.e., industry structure in the language of economics).
VAT Registration Outlined In UAE: Benefits and Requirementsuae taxgpt
Vat Registration is a legal obligation for businesses meeting the threshold requirement, helping companies avoid fines and ramifications. Contact now!
https://viralsocialtrends.com/vat-registration-outlined-in-uae/
Kseniya Leshchenko: Shared development support service model as the way to ma...Lviv Startup Club
Kseniya Leshchenko: Shared development support service model as the way to make small projects with small budgets profitable for the company (UA)
Kyiv PMDay 2024 Summer
Website – www.pmday.org
Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/startuplviv
FB – https://www.facebook.com/pmdayconference
[Note: This is a partial preview. To download this presentation, visit:
https://www.oeconsulting.com.sg/training-presentations]
Sustainability has become an increasingly critical topic as the world recognizes the need to protect our planet and its resources for future generations. Sustainability means meeting our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It involves long-term planning and consideration of the consequences of our actions. The goal is to create strategies that ensure the long-term viability of People, Planet, and Profit.
Leading companies such as Nike, Toyota, and Siemens are prioritizing sustainable innovation in their business models, setting an example for others to follow. In this Sustainability training presentation, you will learn key concepts, principles, and practices of sustainability applicable across industries. This training aims to create awareness and educate employees, senior executives, consultants, and other key stakeholders, including investors, policymakers, and supply chain partners, on the importance and implementation of sustainability.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Develop a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts that form the foundation of sustainability within corporate environments.
2. Explore the sustainability implementation model, focusing on effective measures and reporting strategies to track and communicate sustainability efforts.
3. Identify and define best practices and critical success factors essential for achieving sustainability goals within organizations.
CONTENTS
1. Introduction and Key Concepts of Sustainability
2. Principles and Practices of Sustainability
3. Measures and Reporting in Sustainability
4. Sustainability Implementation & Best Practices
To download the complete presentation, visit: https://www.oeconsulting.com.sg/training-presentations
Personal Brand Statement:
As an Army veteran dedicated to lifelong learning, I bring a disciplined, strategic mindset to my pursuits. I am constantly expanding my knowledge to innovate and lead effectively. My journey is driven by a commitment to excellence, and to make a meaningful impact in the world.
Affordable Stationery Printing Services in Jaipur | Navpack n PrintNavpack & Print
Looking for professional printing services in Jaipur? Navpack n Print offers high-quality and affordable stationery printing for all your business needs. Stand out with custom stationery designs and fast turnaround times. Contact us today for a quote!
Premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions for Modern BusinessesSynapseIndia
Stay ahead of the curve with our premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions. Our expert developers utilize MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js to create modern and responsive web applications. Trust us for cutting-edge solutions that drive your business growth and success.
Know more: https://www.synapseindia.com/technology/mean-stack-development-company.html
Tata Group Dials Taiwan for Its Chipmaking Ambition in Gujarat’s DholeraAvirahi City Dholera
The Tata Group, a titan of Indian industry, is making waves with its advanced talks with Taiwanese chipmakers Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) and UMC Group. The goal? Establishing a cutting-edge semiconductor fabrication unit (fab) in Dholera, Gujarat. This isn’t just any project; it’s a potential game changer for India’s chipmaking aspirations and a boon for investors seeking promising residential projects in dholera sir.
Visit : https://www.avirahi.com/blog/tata-group-dials-taiwan-for-its-chipmaking-ambition-in-gujarats-dholera/
Memorandum Of Association Constitution of Company.pptseri bangash
www.seribangash.com
A Memorandum of Association (MOA) is a legal document that outlines the fundamental principles and objectives upon which a company operates. It serves as the company's charter or constitution and defines the scope of its activities. Here's a detailed note on the MOA:
Contents of Memorandum of Association:
Name Clause: This clause states the name of the company, which should end with words like "Limited" or "Ltd." for a public limited company and "Private Limited" or "Pvt. Ltd." for a private limited company.
https://seribangash.com/article-of-association-is-legal-doc-of-company/
Registered Office Clause: It specifies the location where the company's registered office is situated. This office is where all official communications and notices are sent.
Objective Clause: This clause delineates the main objectives for which the company is formed. It's important to define these objectives clearly, as the company cannot undertake activities beyond those mentioned in this clause.
www.seribangash.com
Liability Clause: It outlines the extent of liability of the company's members. In the case of companies limited by shares, the liability of members is limited to the amount unpaid on their shares. For companies limited by guarantee, members' liability is limited to the amount they undertake to contribute if the company is wound up.
https://seribangash.com/promotors-is-person-conceived-formation-company/
Capital Clause: This clause specifies the authorized capital of the company, i.e., the maximum amount of share capital the company is authorized to issue. It also mentions the division of this capital into shares and their respective nominal value.
Association Clause: It simply states that the subscribers wish to form a company and agree to become members of it, in accordance with the terms of the MOA.
Importance of Memorandum of Association:
Legal Requirement: The MOA is a legal requirement for the formation of a company. It must be filed with the Registrar of Companies during the incorporation process.
Constitutional Document: It serves as the company's constitutional document, defining its scope, powers, and limitations.
Protection of Members: It protects the interests of the company's members by clearly defining the objectives and limiting their liability.
External Communication: It provides clarity to external parties, such as investors, creditors, and regulatory authorities, regarding the company's objectives and powers.
https://seribangash.com/difference-public-and-private-company-law/
Binding Authority: The company and its members are bound by the provisions of the MOA. Any action taken beyond its scope may be considered ultra vires (beyond the powers) of the company and therefore void.
Amendment of MOA:
While the MOA lays down the company's fundamental principles, it is not entirely immutable. It can be amended, but only under specific circumstances and in compliance with legal procedures. Amendments typically require shareholder
3.0 Project 2_ Developing My Brand Identity Kit.pptxtanyjahb
A personal brand exploration presentation summarizes an individual's unique qualities and goals, covering strengths, values, passions, and target audience. It helps individuals understand what makes them stand out, their desired image, and how they aim to achieve it.
Improving profitability for small businessBen Wann
In this comprehensive presentation, we will explore strategies and practical tips for enhancing profitability in small businesses. Tailored to meet the unique challenges faced by small enterprises, this session covers various aspects that directly impact the bottom line. Attendees will learn how to optimize operational efficiency, manage expenses, and increase revenue through innovative marketing and customer engagement techniques.
1. 30 February 2016 Employee Benefit News ebn.benefitnews.com
CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING IT
through one of the most legally and
administratively challenging years in
employee benefits history. But, as you
know, employee benefits never sleep.
Here is the 2016 ABCs of employee
benefits — what I call the annual “just
tell me what I need to do” list.
ACA reporting aftermath. Ensure
you keep all the documentation sup-
porting the reporting decisions made
(e.g., employee benefits eligibility
coding, alternative reporting meth-
ods, transitional relief, control group
decisions, etc.) and profusely thank
everyone who helped you complete
this arduous task.
Benefits websites. Benefits in-
formation — good, bad, and ugly
— is everywhere you look. Here are
sources of credible information: ebn.
benefitnews.com, BenefitsLink and
government ACA websites such as
healthcare.gov and the DOL’s health-
care reform site.
Consider self-insurance. Ac-
cording to the 2015 PwC Health and
Well-being Touchstone Survey, 66%
of employers with 500-1,000 employ-
ees are self-insured, up from 59% in
2014. Perform a cost/benefit analysis
to determine if self-funding is right for
your organization. Don’t forget to cal-
culate the expected ACA fees (PCO-
RI and transitional reinsurance) and
“cost” of performing extra reporting
responsibilities.
Develop an annual compliance
calendar. Given multiple employee
benefit legal requirements, create an
annual compliance calendar so you
can keep track of what you must com-
ply with and when. Major require-
ments will fall in the following areas:
ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, etc.
Execute appropriate benefit
strategies. Refocus on determining
strategies to control rising healthcare
costs. According to the 2015 Willis
Towers Watson/NBGH Best Practices
in Health Care Employer Survey, the
top priorities of employers’ healthcare
activities over the next three years in-
clude increasing focus on employee
well-being, including health, finan-
cial and workplace experience (96%);
evaluating health and pharmacy plan
design strategy (95%); and develop-
ing/enhancing a workplace culture
where employees are responsible for
their health (94%).
Familiarize yourself with ERI-
SA section 510. Lawsuits are already
being filed by employees alleging that
their employer reduced their hours to
keep them from having health insur-
ance coverage. To minimize your risk
and exposure, consult counsel before
taking any actions that will affect em-
ployee benefits eligibility.
Growing interest in benefits
technology. EBN’s second annual
technology survey indicates that 38%
of respondents plan to increase their
spending on employee benefits tech-
nology next year, with 44% having al-
ready increased their spending from
2014 to 2015. Much of that spending
is directed toward new employee por-
tals and front-end systems to better
integrate and utilize various benefits
functionalities (health, retirement,
voluntary benefits and more.)
Here comes HIPAA. The U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services Office of Civil Rights has
announced a new phase of covered
entity and business associate audits
for compliance with the privacy and
security rules under HIPAA. If you
haven’t already, ensure that your or-
ganization is complying with the ap-
propriate HIPAA privacy and security
rules (policies and procedures, priva-
cy notice, training, etc.)
Impact of Supreme Court rul-
ing on same-sex marriage. The U.S.
COMMENTARY
The ABCs of employee benefits
BENEFITS MANAGEMENT
A look at 26 benefits issues you need to pay attention to in 2016
BY ED BRAY, J.D.
2. Employee Benefit News February 2016 31
Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v.
Hodges that the Constitution guar-
antees same-sex couples the right to
marry. Consult legal counsel and your
health insurance carriers to discuss
any legal and business decisions as a
result of this ruling, including wheth-
er to offer domestic partner benefits
into the future.
Jury still out on private exchang-
es. According to the Deloitte Center
for Health Solutions 2015 Survey of
U.S. Employers, 30% of respondents
are interested in moving to a private
exchange and early adopters feel that
private exchanges make it easier to
offer a defined premium approach
(62%), simplify their company’s role
in benefits administration (60%), and
improve access to broader physician/
hospital networks (57%.)
Keep the Cadillac tax in mind.
According to the IFEBP 2015 Em-
ployer-Sponsored Health Care: ACA’s
Impact Survey, 34% of employers, up
from 24.5% in 2014, have started tak-
ing action to avoid triggering the Ca-
dillac tax. Actions include moving to
a CDHP (52.9%), reducing benefits
(36.9%), and adopting wellness and
preventive initiatives (28.3%). Run a
financial projection to determine if
your organization is expected to be
impacted by the Cadillac tax. If you
expect to be impacted, consider cost
mitigation strategies and keep an eye
out for upcoming proposed regula-
tions.
Learn financial wellness. Nine-
ty-three percent of employers are
very or moderately likely to create
or broaden their efforts on financial
wellness topics in a manner that ex-
tends beyond retirement decisions,
according to Aon Hewitt’s 2015 Hot
Topics in Retirement Survey. Such
topics include basics of financial mar-
kets, healthcare planning, financial
planning, debt management, budget-
ing, and saving for life stages. Given
employee interest, look into which
topic/s will provide the greatest val-
ue-add and work with your retire-
ment provider to lead financial well-
ness meetings.
Make the business case for help.
Now and over the next few years, ACA
administrative requirements are go-
ing to become unmanageable for
one department/person to handle
on their own. In fact, according to
the IFEBP 2015 Employer-Sponsored
Health Care: ACA’s Impact Survey,
employers say their biggest challenge
isn’t cost (20.6%), but rather admin-
istrative issues (56.9%). Given signif-
icant penalties for noncompliance,
engage help as soon as possible, es-
pecially from your broker/consultant
and internal departments (payroll, IT,
communications).
Notify your CFO. It’s a whole new
world of corporate healthcare costs.
Whereas costs have historically been
based on trend and experience, the
cost impact of the ACA (new employ-
ee eligibility, fees, etc.) and internal/
external support resources (consul-
tants, third-party vendors) must now
be figured in. Determine your 2016
costs and discuss them with your CFO
in order to avoid any surprises.
Obey state and local laws. With
so much attention being paid to ACA
compliance, it’s easy to lose sight of
the fact that some states and cities are
introducing legislation affecting em-
ployee benefits, especially paid sick
leave laws. Ensure that you have the
means to learn and comply with such
legislation.
Prepare for telehealth-mania.
Seventy-four percent of employers
plan to offer telehealth this year in
states where it is legal, up from 48%
last year, according to the National
Business Group on Health’s Large
Employers’ Health Plan Design Sur-
vey. Given the costs associated with
in-person visits and the upcoming
Cadillac tax, this may be a great op-
portunity for your organization to
mitigate health insurance costs.
Questions galore. Given the com-
plexity of the ACA, employees are
confused and questions will increase.
According to the IFEBP 2015 Employ-
er-Sponsored Health Care: ACA’s Im-
pact Survey, common questions ben-
efit managers should be prepared to
answer include: How will our benefits
change? Is this benefits change be-
cause of the ACA? How does the law
affect me? Do I need to do anything
(tax-related) or otherwise? What will
this cost me? Why are my costs going
up? Remind employees that you (and
not the news, neighbors, or relatives)
are in the best position to answer their
questions, especially at open enroll-
ment and employee benefit meetings.
When talking about the ACA with em-
ployees, however, make sure you are
not providing legal or tax advice.
Ramp up proactive employee
communication. Given the ACA in-
dividual mandate and exchange op-
portunities, communicate proactively
with employees in key situations that
could have a negative effect on them
or the organization (e.g., remind new-
ly benefits-eligible employees to de-
termine their exchange subsidy eligi-
bility, require employees who decline
benefits coverage to sign a waiver,
ensure employees know if and when
they are eligible for employee benefits
or not, etc.).
Study the ACA. In addition to
the obvious compliance reasons, the
ACA’s requirements will have a sig-
nificant impact on current and future
benefit program costs (plan design,
eligibility, fees, etc.). Thus, it’s criti-
cal to learn and understand the ACA
to allow you to develop appropriate
short- and long-term cost control
strategies.
Tackle low-hanging employee
benefits compliance fruit. Between
the ACA reporting requirements
(W-2 cost of benefits, IRS reporting)
and payment of new fees (PCORI,
transitional reinsurance), the federal
government’s magnifying glass over
your benefits program has increased
significantly, thus increasing its ex-
posure to an audit. If the government
arrives at your organization, they
may inquire about non-ACA benefits
compliance including plan documen-
tation (ERISA, Section 125), HIPAA
(policies and procedures, training),
non-discrimination testing, wellness
programs, etc.
Understand employee benefits
eligibility. Ensure you truly under-
stand how the employee benefits el-
igibility rules work and are applying
them accurately because there are
three policing functions: the federal
government, employees, and tax ad-
visers through the ACA’s IRS report-
ing process. You could be subject to
significant penalties if you don’t of-
fer health insurance coverage to the
appropriate employees. This is espe-
cially important for 2016 where the
offer of benefits coverage threshold
increases from 70% to 95% of full-time
employees.
Visualize the light at the end of
the tunnel. There’s a good chance that
over the past five years you have done
more heavy lifting in the employee
benefits space than you have in your
entire career. Between learning and
implementing the ever-changing
ACA, coupled with managing your
pre-ACA benefit responsibilities, you
should be very proud of the work you
have accomplished. The good news is
that there is light at end of the tunnel
in that the ACA implementation re-
quirements should slow down over
the next year, allowing you to focus on
the strategy side of this new world of
employee benefits.
Write your broker/consultant’s
job description. And, speaking of
this new world of employee bene-
fits, task your broker/consultant with
providing hands-on support in the
following areas: compliance, commu-
nications, analytics, administration,
and strategic solutions. If they are un-
able to meet your wants, needs and
expectations, find a new one who will.
It’s a buyer’s market.
X-amine new notices, regula-
tions, instructions, etc. There was
a good chance that the ACA would
roar like a lion once the U.S. Supreme
Court decided King v. Burwell and
it certainly has. We are seeing com-
pliance regulations being issued on
a continuous basis with no end in
sight. Ensure that you have external
resources in place to alert you to any
new information affecting your health
insurance plan.
Year of new vendors and ser-
vices. When it comes to determining
benefits eligibility and completing
IRS ACA reporting, new vendors have
entered the market. If you decide to
use a third-party vendor, perform a
thorough vetting process. Key areas
to cover include: determining exactly
what they are going to do for your or-
ganization, gaining assurance in writ-
ing that they will meet key IRS com-
pliance dates, learning how they will
collect necessary information from all
sources, and determining the accessi-
bility of your dedicated support team.
Zero in on employee well-being.
According to the 2015 PwC Health
and Well-being Touchstone Survey,
more employers (73%, up from 71% in
2014) have introduced wellness pro-
grams to mitigate the impact of their
major cost drivers and more CFOs are
willing to listen. Eighty-seven percent
of employers with wellness programs
offer incentives; of those, 27% offer
cash incentives of at least $100. Deter-
mine what type of wellness program
can positively impact your key cost
drivers and then take the appropriate
implementation action. ■
Contributing Editor Ed Bray is senior
vice president of compliance with As-
cension. He can be reached at ebray@
ascensionins.com.