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When a company experiences significant increases in workers’ compensation costs, it usually triggers internal activities aimed at reducing insurance costs and spending. The key to spending fewer dollars is more than just stopping a few accidents; it is having a sound safety program designed to continuously improve. This is where a safety program that, at…

Each year, Medicare Part D requires group health plan sponsors to disclose to individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part D and to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) whether the health plan’s prescription drug coverage is creditable. Plan sponsors must provide the annual disclosure notice to Medicare-eligible individuals before Oct. 15, 2021—the…

On July 23, 2021, the IRS published a proposed rule that would expand the requirement to file certain information returns electronically, including those under the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) reporting requirements in Internal Revenue Code Section 6055 and Section 6056. For Form 1094 series, Forms 1095-B and 1095-C, Form 1099 series and Form 5498 series,…

President Joe Biden’s administration is ardently increasing its efforts to get more Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 as the coronavirus Delta variant rages across the country. Over the past several weeks, the White House has been gradually releasing sweeping COVID-19-related mandates. These include vaccine mandates for nursing home employees, federal workers and federal contractors. The government…

COVID-19 vaccinations are a highly contentious topic in America. Many U.S. adults still haven’t gotten the shot despite the Food and Drug Administration’s recent (FDA) full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This reluctance is seen as a problem by health experts, who contest that vaccination is the most effective way to control the widespread coronavirus…

One of the nation’s largest pipelines was forced to shut down in early May 2021 after falling victim to a ransomware attack. The 5,500-mile pipeline is operated by Colonial Pipeline and carries refined gasoline and jet fuel from Texas to New York. This pipeline transports 45% of the east coast’s fuel supplies. The attack—carried out…

The most successful open enrollment campaigns start engaging employees months before enrollment begins. That means organizations should review their offerings sooner rather than later so there’s ample time to develop and execute a successful campaign. Use this general timeline to help your organization prepare for a successful open enrollment period. 8-12 Weeks Before Open Enrollment…

On Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, President Joe Biden signed executive orders requiring federal workers and contractors to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Biden also directed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to draft a new emergency rule requiring all businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure all of their workers are either tested for…

The COVID-19 pandemic put many people out of work in early 2020, particularly in the restaurant industry. Businesses were forced to shutter overnight, giving workers little time to adapt to their circumstances. Layoffs were so rampant that the federal government needed to step in and offer more generous unemployment benefits (an extra $300 per week…

As the highly contagious and transmissible Delta variant spreads across the United States and the numbers of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise, many organizations are taking action to protect employees. In some cases, they are mandating that employees get vaccinated before returning to the workplace or encouraging them to do so. For some employers, these…