On the last day before summer recess, the United States Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the much anticipated “ObamaCare” case. Despite being difficult to follow without the assistance of a roadmap, the result of the nearly 200-page ruling is that health care reform...
The passage and continued implementation of Healthcare Reform, as well as its uncertain political future, have placed employers in a precarious position with their health benefit programs. Nevertheless, employers continue to do their best to balance the need to attract smart and sophisticated employees by...
In a move aimed at combating abuse and neglect in the nation’s long-term care facilities, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded more than $13 million on October 6, 2010, to six states to design comprehensive applicant criminal background check programs for jobs...
If an employer has 13 full-time employees, each of whom works 40 hours per week, and 10 part-time employees, each of whom works 20 hours per week, can this employer qualify as a “small-employer plan” under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)? Yes. After a...
In light of recent military-related amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), should I update the FMLA notice currently posted in my employees' break room? Yes. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which generally applies to employers with 50 or more employees, was...
President Barack Obama signed into law on March 23 the most sweeping reform of the United States health care system in the last 50 years. Combined, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Reconciliation Act of 2010, now referred to collectively as the...
The health care reform act is officially upon us. On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and on March 30th the President signed the Health Care & Education Reconciliation Act. Together, these two bills make up the highly-publicized...
Every American is painfully aware of the impact of skyrocketing health insurance costs. Rising premiums, higher deductibles, larger co-pays, reduced benefits - both employers and employees are feeling the pinch as they look for plans that are affordable for everyone. That's why HRAs - Health Reimbursement...
The numbers don't lie: According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute, medical costs for 2009 will increase by almost 10 percent, significantly outpacing the current rate of inflation. In response to these skyrocketing costs, the Institute also reports on the increasing popularity of workplace wellness programs,...
As the large numbers of Baby Boomers start to turn 60, many of them assume incorrectly that Medicare, Medicaid, supplemental policies or standard health insurance policies will cover their long-term health care expenses and needs. Consequently, many people do not plan ahead financially to provide...