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Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter

May 5, 2021

3 New Job Opportunities

 

[Guidance Overview]

Montana Makes Telehealth Expansion Permanent

"[The new law], which is effective on January 1, 2022 ... permanently lifts telehealth limitations ... like requiring an established patient-provider relationship in order to enable a provider to render certain types of services via telehealth, as well as restrictions on geographic proximity and location restrictions for patients. [It] also allows for additional types of technology to be used for telehealth services, such as audio-only calls."  MORE >>

Sheppard Mullin

[Guidance Overview]

State of Washington Adds Tight Exemption Timeline to Long-Term Care Law

"Washington's LTC mandate covers any worker covered by the state's paid family and medical leave (PFML) law.... Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, employers must deduct employee premiums set at 0.58% of wages -- without any wage cap -- for each pay period.... An employee may qualify for an exemption by purchasing a private LTC policy before Nov. 1, 2021."  MORE >>

Mercer

Rethinking Employee Benefits for Permanently Remote Workers

"Remote employees who fail to inform their employers in a timely way when they relocate could face some unwelcome surprises, such as having medical claims denied if they receive care from a health provider in the new location that is not in the employer health plan's existing network.... Depending on where remote employees live, employers may need to set up specific benefits to accommodate employees in specific locations."  MORE >>

Society for Human Resource Management [SHRM]; membership may be required to view article

Employers Brace for COVID's Mental Health Fallout as Workers Return

"[As] workers come back, employers must make access to wellness resources easy. Companies should subsidize online exercise classes, gym memberships and mental health programs.... New strategies unique to the pandemic can include outdoor video chats and 'walk-and-talks' with mental health professionals."  MORE >>

Bloomberg Quint

How to Engage New Hires with One-on-One Employee Benefits Guidance

"[1] Create a seamless onboarding process that strengthens your messaging ... [2] Differentiate in high-turnover industries and roles ... [3] Align with lower-income employees' needs."  MORE >>

Alight Solutions

Assessment of Overuse of Medical Tests and Treatments at U.S. Hospitals Using Medicare Claims

"This cross-sectional study used a novel measurement of hospital-associated overuse; results showed that the highest scores in this Medicare population were associated with nonteaching and for-profit hospitals, particularly in the South."  MORE >>

JAMA Network

Benefits in General

[Guidance Overview]

DOL Announces Intent to Withdraw Independent Contractor Rule

"The department is withdrawing the rule for several reasons, including: [1] The independent contractor rule was in tension with the FLSA's text and purpose, as well as relevant judicial precedent. [2] The rule's prioritization of two 'core factors' for determining employee status under the FLSA would have undermined the longstanding balancing approach of the economic realities test and court decisions requiring a review of the totality of the circumstances related to the employment relationship. [3] The rule would have narrowed the facts and considerations comprising the analysis of whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor, resulting in workers losing FLSA protections."  MORE >>

U.S. Department of Labor [DOL]

Grouping Benefits to Enhance Financial Wellness

"Instead of giving employees a list of benefit products, plan sponsors should consider presenting them as resources for different life stages, which can lead to better participation."  MORE >>

PLANSPONSOR; free registration may be required

Employee Benefits Jobs

View job as Retirement Plan Administration Consultant
for TSC Retirement Plan Administration Consultant

TSC

Minneapolis MN

View job as Retirement Plan Administration Consultant
for TSC

View job as Retirement Plan Administrator
for Liden, Nestle, Soled & Associates Retirement Plan Administrator

Liden, Nestle, Soled & Associates

Telecommute / Westlake Village CA

View job as Actuary (Office of Inspector General)
for Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation [PBGC] Actuary (Office of Inspector General)

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation [PBGC]

Telecommute / Washington DC

Press Releases

Custodia Financial Appoints Mark Herman as President

Custodia Financial

Lockton Dunning Benefits Expands Talent in Austin

Lockton

Steve Idoux Named President of Lockton Dunning Benefits’ Dallas Office

Lockton

Traditional and PTO Plans Dominate the Paid Leave Landscape, with Unlimited Plans Trailing Far Behind, According to XpertHR’s 2021 Paid Leave Survey

XpertHR

TRA Announces the Acquisition of John T. Toomey Associates, Inc.

The Retirement Advantage [TRA]

Webcasts and Conferences
(Health & Welfare Plans)

Understanding Your Fiduciary Responsibilities Under ERISA

May 26, 2021 WEBCAST

Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine

Benefits Boot Camp

June 10, 2021 WEBCAST

Worldwide Employee Benefits Network [WEB] - Northeast Ohio Chapter

Last Issue's Most Popular Items

COBRA Subsidies: Questions and Answers (PDF)

Boutwell Fay LLP

A Comparison of Tax-Advantaged Accounts for Health Care Expenses

Congressional Research Service [CRS]

25 Ideas for Benefits and Perks to Offer Remote Workers

HR Daily Advisor

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BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter, ISSN no. 1536-9587.

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