Little more than a month ago, we reported to you about the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC’s) first lawsuit against a Wisconsin employer concerning its wellness program. On October 1, the EEOC announced a second lawsuit against another Wisconsin employer. EEOC v. Flambeau, Inc. (W.D.WI, filed October 1, 2014). Based on the report, the agency’s … Continue Reading
The Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) recently released guidance on the application process to obtain a Health Plan Identifier (“HPID”). A HPID is an all-numeric 10-digit identification number that many HIPAA-covered health plans are required to adopt by November 5, 2014. Think of a HPID like an EIN for health plans. HPIDs will … Continue Reading
Beginning in 2015, certain employers that fail to offer affordable health insurance that provides minimum value to their full-time employees and their dependents may incur substantial Employer Shared Responsibility penalties under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). We previously wrote about the importance of properly classifying workers as employees or independent contractors to assure ACA compliance. … Continue Reading
The EEOC could sue my company over the wellness program that is part of our medical plan? Yes, that agency recently sued an employer in Wisconsin claiming the penalty the employer imposed for nonparticpation in its program was too significant, causing the medical inquiries under the program to be involuntary for purposes of the Americans … Continue Reading
Beginning next year, an applicable large employer that does not offer affordable minimum value group health coverage to its fulltime employees (and their children up to age 26) will be vulnerable to employer shared responsibility penalties under Internal Revenue Code §4980H. Whether an employer is an “applicable large employer” depends on its number of fulltime … Continue Reading
On June 27, 2014, the IRS released Information Letter 2014-0012, which contains guidance for employees who have had the value of same-sex spousal coverage under employer health plans — which until recently was required to be included in gross income — reported on their Forms W-2. BACKGROUND Historically, the employer cost of opposite-sex spousal … Continue Reading
Just as employers are gearing up to prepare for compliance with the Shared Responsibility rules under the ACA, a pair of decisions from two federal appeals courts has thrown a curve ball into what was already a complicated assessment of risk for employers and raised new questions. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District … Continue Reading
It’s summer now, mid-year 2014. Open enrollment for the 2015 health plan year is just around the corner. . . We want to make sure that all employers are ready. We want to ensure, as well, that government contractors specifically understand the intersection of the Service Contract Act (SCA) with other federal laws. To be … Continue Reading
In May, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that it intends to issue proposed regulations addressing health plan-based wellness programs. According to the EEOC’s announcement, the guidance is expected to address the following items: Does title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allow employers to offer financial inducements and/or impose financial penalties as part of … Continue Reading
During the past 14+ years practicing employee benefits law, I’ve seen many changes, not the least of which has been the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, with all of the recent changes flowing from the ACA, it is important not to forget some very basic and long-standing aspects of plan compliance, design, drafting and administration, … Continue Reading
The Department of Labor (DOL) has published proposed regulations containing amendments to the COBRA notice provisions. The amendments are intended to align the model general and election notices with the Affordable Care Act provisions already in effect and to ensure that the DOL will have flexibility to modify the model notices going forward. The proposed … Continue Reading
A U.S. Surgeon General’s Report issued this month marks fifty years since the Surgeon General’s landmark report in 1964 that set in motion a nationwide campaign to reduce and hopefully eliminate tobacco smoking in the United States. Also during this month, rules under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) go into effect, enhancing employers’ ability to … Continue Reading
The Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services issued final regulations on June 3, 2013, that implement PHS Act section 2705, added by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and existing provisions under ERISA and the Code. The preamble to those regulations stated that the Departments anticipated issuing future subregulatory guidance as necessary. Frequently … Continue Reading
Proposed regulations published on March 21, 2013 addressed not only the 90-day waiting period rule discussed below but also the eventual elimination of notices of creditable coverage under HIPAA’s preexisting condition exclusions rules. The 2010 health care reform law prohibits group health plans from imposing preexisting condition exclusions, effective for plan years beginning on or … Continue Reading
We are pleased to announce the launch of Jackson Lewis’ Health Care Reform Resource Center. Our Resource Center provides one convenient place for you to obtain key health care reform-related law, agency guidance, Jackson Lewis articles and related information. We hope you find this resource helpful.… Continue Reading
San Francisco’s Health Care Security Ordinance has been amended to require more of certain employers with workers in the City and County of San Francisco. The amendments will take effect January 1, 2012. Employers, particularly those using a health reimbursement account plan (HRA) or a health savings account (HSA) plan to comply with the Ordinance, … Continue Reading
Group health plans that are not grandfathered under the 2010 health care reform law (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010) must provide women’s contraception without cost-sharing beginning with the first plan year that starts on or after August 1, 2012. The three agencies … Continue Reading
The Internal Revenue Service has given a last-minute holiday gift to sponsors of insured group health plans. It announced delayed enforcement for the new nondiscrimination provisions applicable to insured group health plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; together … Continue Reading
As group health plans brace for open enrollment periods under the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, one of the key issues they face is the Act’s new coverage requirements for adult children. Previously, a child became ineligible for family coverage under a group health plan for federal tax purposes once the … Continue Reading
