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Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter

May 26, 2022

7 New Job Opportunities 7 New Job Opportunities

 

[Guidance Overview]

IRS Provides Guidance on Leave-Based Donation Programs for Ukraine

"[Notice 2022-28 provides that] leave-based donation payments made by an employer before January 1, 2023, to aid victims will not be treated as gross income or wages of the employees. Similarly, employees electing to forgo leave that funds the employer leave-based donation payments will not be treated as having [constructively received] gross income or wages."  MORE >>

The Wagner Law Group

[Guidance Overview]

A Key to FMLA Success: Supporting Our Employees as Mental Health Issues Arise

"[T]he FMLA covers situations when an employee's mental health condition inhibits them from working. The DOL provides several examples of FMLA-triggering situations in its new Fact Sheet #280 and new Frequently Asked Questions ... [T]here are a few important principles to keep in mind when managing an employee with a mental health condition."  MORE >>

FMLA Insights

[Guidance Overview]

Maryland and Delaware Become the 10th and 11th States to Provide Paid Family and Medical Leave

"Maryland workers will be able to apply for paid leave benefits from a state fund starting on January 1, 2025. Contributions from employees and employers are not required until October 1, 2023, and covered individuals can submit claims for benefits beginning January 1, 2025.... Delaware is now the 11th state to pass legislation that guarantees paid family and medical leave to eligible workers who take a qualified leave. Payroll contributions will begin January 1, 2025, and the state will start paying benefits on January 1, 2026."  MORE >>

Duane Morris LLP

[Guidance Overview]

Delaware Enacts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law

"Entitled the Healthy Delaware Families Act, the new law establishes a Family Medical Leave Insurance Program which will be funded by employer and employee contributions starting January 1, 2025. Covered employees will be eligible to use up to 12 weeks of job-protected, paid family and medical leave starting on January 1, 2026."  MORE >>

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Eleventh Circuit Affirms LINA's Denial of Long Term Disability Benefits

"[T]he court found that LINA correctly denied Nunnelly's LTD claim because there was no medical support for his disability throughout the 26-week elimination period ... The court also found that the district court did not err in denying Nunnelly's motion to remand to LINA to consider a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) award that came in February 2020, well after Nunnelly had filed a lawsuit for his benefits. " [Nunnelly v. Life Ins. Co. of North America, No. 21-12537 (11th Cir. May 24, 2022; unpub.)]  MORE >>

Roberts Disability Law

District Court Finds Employer Violated ERISA by Interfering With Employee’s Use of Health Benefits

"[T]he employee showed that the employer closely tracked invoices for the self-insured health plan and that, even though the information was de-identified, it would not be difficult for the employer to identify individual participants since there were so few employees. The employee also demonstrated that the employer was aware that he would again need costly medical care in the future. Noting that the employee was terminated shortly before a new benefit year started, the court concluded that taken together, the evidence showed retaliation for use of benefits and specific intent to prevent future use of benefits." [Kairys v. S. Pines Trucking, Inc., No. 19-1031 (W.D. Penn. Mar. 31, 2022)]  MORE >>

Thomson Reuters / EBIA

2022 Milliman Medical Index

13 pages. "In 2022, the cost of healthcare for a hypothetical American family of four covered by an average employer-sponsored preferred provider organization (PPO) plan is $30,260 ... Healthcare costs came roaring back with a 13.2% trend.... This rate, driven by a forecasted rebound in healthcare utilization, is higher than historical healthcare cost increases and gross domestic product (GDP) growth over the past five years."  MORE >>

Milliman

Healthcare Spending Expected to Decline by $11.4 Billion If ARPA Tax Credits Expire

"Hospital spending would decline by $3.8 billion. Prescription drug spending would decline by $3.4 billion. Spending on services provided outside of hospitals and physician offices would decline by $2.8 billion. Spending on physician practice services would decline by $1.3 billion. Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas would experience the largest decline in total healthcare spending, ranging from 1.3% to 1.9%."  MORE >>

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

[Opinion]

AHIP Comment Letter to FTC on the Business Practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Their Impact on Independent Pharmacies and Consumers (PDF)

21 pages. "Health insurance providers use PBMs because PBMs achieve positive results for consumers and plan sponsor clients ... Prescription drug list prices in the United States are skyrocketing, but the RFI fails to reference the stakeholders most responsible for high drug price increases -- the drug manufacturers themselves.... PBMs' negotiations for discounts are limited most by the pricing practices of drug manufacturers -- which in turn limits the savings that can be delivered to American consumers and businesses."  MORE >>

America's Health Insurance Plans [AHIP]

Employee Benefits Jobs

View job as Plan Compliance Analyst (Administrator)
          for RPA Plan Compliance Analyst (Administrator)

RPA

Remote

View job as Plan Compliance Analyst (Administrator)
          for RPA

View job as 3(16) Account Manager
          for Pentegra 3(16) Account Manager

Pentegra

Remote

View job as 3(16) Account Manager
          for Pentegra

View job as Participant Solutions Specialist - Level 1
          for Wespath Benefits and Investments Participant Solutions Specialist - Level 1

Wespath Benefits and Investments

Remote / Glenview IL

View job as Participant Solutions Specialist - Level 1
          for Wespath Benefits and Investments

View job as Sr. Benefit Plans Coordinator – Welfare Plans
          for Wespath Benefits and Investments Sr. Benefit Plans Coordinator – Welfare Plans

Wespath Benefits and Investments

Remote / Glenview IL

View job as Sr. Benefit Plans Coordinator – Welfare Plans
          for Wespath Benefits and Investments

View job as Pension Administrator
          for MGKS Pension Administrator

MGKS

Remote / Phoenix AZ

View job as Pension Administrator
          for MGKS

View job as Supervisory Employee Benefits Investigator
          for Employee Benefits Security Administration [EBSA] Supervisory Employee Benefits Investigator

Employee Benefits Security Administration [EBSA]

Remote / Seattle WA

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          for Employee Benefits Security Administration [EBSA]

View job as Benefits Specialist (Recent Graduate)
          for Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation [PBGC] Benefits Specialist (Recent Graduate)

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation [PBGC]

Remote / Washington DC

View job as Benefits Specialist (Recent Graduate)
          for Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation [PBGC]

Press Releases

Principal® Rated No. 1 for Online Group Benefits Administration

Principal Financial Group

Webcasts and Conferences
(Health & Welfare Plans)

SAS 136: Preparing for Changes to Your Employee Benefit Plan Audit

May 26, 2022 WEBCAST

WithumSmith+Brown

Telehealth for the Future

June 1, 2022 WEBCAST

Society of Actuaries

Last Issue's Most Popular Items

Text of DOL Q&As: Mental Health and the FMLA

Wage and Hour Division [WHD], U.S. Department of Labor [DOL]

Leaving on a Jet Plane... Is Travel to Obtain Abortion a Covered Benefit?

Holland & Hart LLP

Text of DOL Fact Sheet: Mental Health Conditions and the FMLA

Wage and Hour Division [WHD], U.S. Department of Labor [DOL]

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

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