[Guidance Overview]

2021 End of Year Plan Sponsor 'To Do' List: Health & Welfare Plans

"The COVID-19 pandemic and the federal government's response have transformed the 2020 and 2021 employee benefits landscape. These changes will extend into 2022, depending on how long the COVID-19 public health emergency lasts.... The CAA includes numerous provisions that impact employer-sponsored group health plans, including the much-anticipated rules regarding surprise medical bills.... Prepare for compliance with Transparency in Coverage rules ... Comply with large employer shared responsibility rules or face penalties[.]"  MORE >>

Snell & Wilmer

[Sponsor]

2022 Onsite Employee Health Clinics Summit (January 20 - 21, 2022; Scottsdale, AZ)

The leading forum on building & expanding On-Site Health Clinics – incorporating strategies that reduce costs, ensure employee satisfaction and positively impact patient behavior! Register now at 2022onsiteclinics.com

[Guidance Overview]

Year-End Reminders for Health & Welfare Plans

"Plan sponsors of group health plans should be aware of important year-end action items and reminders as 2021 comes to a close. [A chart] identifies key year-end reminders for group health plans."  MORE >>

Morgan Lewis

[Guidance Overview]

States, Cities Tackle COVID-19 Paid Leave

62 pages, updated Nov. 8, 2021. "To alleviate some of the economic strain on employees unable to work due to COVID-19, some state and local authorities have implemented new paid leave requirements.... This [article] provides brief summaries of the new state and local paid leave benefits, as well as guidance addressing how existing paid leave benefits apply during the COVID-19 pandemic ... [including] OSHA's ETS paid leave requirements."  MORE >>

Mercer

COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Programs: Employee Benefit Considerations

"When is a vaccination or testing program an ERISA group health plan? ... If my company's vaccination or testing program is covered by ERISA, what is our first concern? ... If my company has a Vaccination/Testing Program, what else do we need to consider?"  MORE >>

Venable LLP

Fifth Circuit: Plan Administrators Do Not Waive Exclusions That Develop as a Result of Court Decisions Affecting the Disability Claim

"What happens when an ERISA-governed disability claim is denied solely under the 'own occupation' provision, but a reviewing district court concludes the claimant is entitled to 'own' occupation benefits? Does an insurer 'waive' an evaluation of the 'any occupation' provision because the insurer denied the claim solely on the 'own occupation' standard? ... Can the district court evaluate and award continued benefits under the 'any occupation' standard when the insurer has not yet made that assessment?" [Martinez v. Standard Ins. Co., No. 20-10475 (5th Cir. Oct. 5, 2021; unpub.)]  MORE >>

Lane Powell PC

Open Enrollment Needs a Makeover

"During 2020's open enrollment period, 56% of employees spent more time reviewing benefits offered by their employer than in previous years ... But 35% of those surveyed admitted that they didn't fully understand the benefits they were signing up for. The solution may be to stop thinking of open enrollment as a once-a-year event.... [C]onversations about benefits should happen continuously within the workplace."  MORE >>

Watko Benefit Group

ACA Litigation Round-Up: What's Resolved, What's on Hold, and What's Still Moving?

"The lawsuits discussed here include: [1] Cases currently pending before the Supreme Court (on Section 1557, the health insurance tax, and hospital reimbursement policies); [2] Lawsuits that are resolved or nearly resolved (on an immigration proclamation, the double billing rule, the SUNSET rule, and unpaid risk corridors payments); [3] Challenges that are currently on hold (on association health plans, the provider conscience rule, Georgia's Section 1332 waiver, unpaid cost-sharing reductions, and the contraceptive mandate); and [4] Lawsuits that are proceeding or have been newly filed (on the preventive service mandate, Section 1557, the insurer transparency rule, and the Data Marketing Partnership arrangement)."  MORE >>

Katie Keith, in Health Affairs Blog

[Guidance Overview]

Year-End Deadlines and Considerations for Employee Benefit Plans

"With the end of the year fast approaching, employers should be aware of several important deadlines and considerations related to retirement and health and welfare plans. With the onslaught of recent COVID-19-related legislation, 2021's year-end employee benefit plan checklist is more complicated than usual."  MORE >>

Husch Blackwell

► View More Jobs    ► Post a Job    ► Subscribe to Job Alerts

Centivo Launches Integrated Virtual Advanced Primary Care Offering

Centivo

NPPG's Strategic Growth Continues by Acquiring Consulting Actuaries Incorporated

NPPG

The Wagner Law Group Ranked 'Tier 1' ERISA and Employee Benefits Law Firm for 2022

Wagner Law Group P.C.

► View More Press Releases

COVID & Beyond: Employment & Benefits Update

December 8, 2021 WEBCAST

Thompson Hine LLP

► View All Upcoming    ► View Webcast Recordings

Supreme Court Will Hear Challenge to Dialysis Provisions of Medicare Secondary Payer Act

SCOTUSblog

Fifth Circuit Temporarily Blocks Biden Administration Vaccine Rules for Private Employers

The Wall Street Journal; subscription may be required

PBM Oversight, Insulin Cost-Sharing Provisions Among Build Back Better Act Updates

Health Affairs Blog