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Hand-picked links to the web's best news articles, official guidance, jobs, webcasts and more.
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[Guidance Overview]
2014 ACA Reporting and Disclosure
"The first return is due to the IRS on February 28, 2016 if filed on paper and March 31 if filed electronically. The first individual statement is due January 31, 2016. Reporting is based on a calendar year regardless of the plan year.... What should plan sponsors focus on now? The simple answer is data. Do you have it? If you don't, how will you collect it? What can current service providers do to help you? Do any of the alternative reporting rules apply for your situation? Whatever you do, always remember that you may have to prove it! So, you must document, document, document."
(ERISADiagnostics)
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[Guidance Overview]
Minimum Value and Actuarial Value Determinations Under the ACA (PDF)
28 pages. Excerpt: "There is significant conceptual and mathematical overlap between the AV required for individual and small group determination of 'metal values' and the MV requirements for large-group plans, as well as large and small-group self-insured plans. There are also some important differences between the two. This practice note will address those similarities and differences in more detail."
(American Academy of Actuaries)
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Help Employers Understand the ACA's Limited Non Assessment Periods
"[T]he limited non-assessment periods are: [1]The first three full calendar months of employment for a new employee who is reasonably expected to be a full-time employee under the look-back measurement period, or under the monthly measurement method, an employee who is otherwise eligible for an offer of coverage as a full-time employee; [2]The employee's initial measurement period (and the associated administrative period); [3] A period of time after an employee experiences a change to full-time employee status during the initial measurement period. The final regulations also provide a transition rule for an employer's first year as an applicable large employer[.]"
(Employee Benefit News)
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The Reality Behind Wearable Wellness
"In 2014, approximately 42 million wearable wireless sports, fitness and wellness devices are expected to be shipped worldwide, according to data from technology market-intelligence company ABI Research.... Yet wearable devices don't come without a cost and some question whether they are a worthwhile investment for cash-strapped employer wellness programs."
(Employee Benefit News)
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Private Health Insurance Exchanges May Provide Savings for Employers
"[P]rivate exchanges appeal to small- and medium-sized businesses that have relatively high revenue and well-compensated employees.... Low-revenue companies and small business employees who have never had health insurance are often better served pursuing coverage options on the new public exchanges, Brown said."
(HealthLeaders Media)
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California Court Upholds Post-FMLA Fitness for Duty Examination in Face of Safety Concerns
"The White decision may give employers a basis for seeking a medical opinion regarding an employee's fitness for duty (presuming the examination follows ADA guidelines), but the court made clear that examinations would not be appropriate in every case, and an employer seeking to request an examination should be prepared to demonstrate that the employee's condition 'impacted, or posed a risk to, the employee's work.'" [White v. County of Los Angeles, No. B243471 (Cal. Ct. App. Apr. 15, 2014)]
(Ballard Spahr)
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Aetna Says 'On the Fly' Obamacare Changes Will Account for Half of 2015 Premium Increases
"The nation's third-largest health insurer is participating in 17 state [ACA] exchanges in 2014. The company says its 'bias' is to stay at that level in 2015. Aetna chief executive Mark Bertolini says premium increases in those 17 states, which encompass 132 rating areas, ... will range from 'the very low single digits' to 'some that will be over double digits.' ... Bertolini said about half of the company's premium increases, whatever they turn out to be, will be attributable to 'on the fly' regulatory changes made by the Obama administration. He cited as an example the administration's policy of allowing old health plans that were supposed to expire in 2014 to be extended another three years if states and insurers wanted to."
(The Washington Post; subscription may be required)
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Oregon's Top IT Official Recommends Scrapping Its Obamacare Website
"Oregon's top IT official is recommending Cover Oregon scrap the state's disastrous online health insurance exchange that failed to sign up a single resident ... The state received more than $305 million in federal grants for the health exchange and, since January 16, has spent nearly $200 million through Cover Oregon and the Oregon Health Authority. But the website has never worked properly and applicants were forced to use a 'costly, time-consuming, hybrid paper-online process'[.]"
(The Heritage Foundation)
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The Healthcare Debate Hasn't Changed in 20 Years
"The Clinton Library on Friday released thousands of pages of new documents from the Clinton White House, including about 850 pages on its failed effort to pass health reform. The documents are especially interesting for how they seemingly parallel the debate around Obamacare."
(The Washington Post; subscription may be required)
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[Opinion]
Text of Comments by U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Proposed Exchange and Insurance Market Standards for 2015 and Beyond (PDF)
"[We] first recommend that the final rule includes a broader definition of what constitutes a 'uniform modification.' Second, we urge HHS to permit greater flexibility and defer to employers in determining the content and timing of required notices. Third, we ... urge HHS to allow any individuals with minimum essential coverage to purchase hospital or other indemnity insurance in the individual market. Fourth, we caution against expanding the definition of small group. Fifth, we recommend against imposing an expedited formulary exceptions request at this time. Finally, we urge HHS to focus on ensuring that the electronic enrollment infrastructure is fully operational for all Small Business Health Options Programs before incorporating the highly-complex additional functions that an employee choice option would demand."
(U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
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Press Releases
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