Category: News

On May 29, 2013 the Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor jointly issued a final rule that addresses how wellness programs must operate under PPACA beginning in 2014. In many respects the fina…

Do you know the difference between "essential health benefits" and "minimum essential coverage"? How about "minimum value coverage"? Read on and find out!

United Benefit Advisors (UBA) announces the launch of its compliance solutions aimed at helping employers understand their obligations and opportunities under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Federal agencies continue to issue details on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The latest cover eligibility waiting periods, employee notices and claims appeals regulations.

Need help wading through all those provisions and decisions related to the health care reform law? We have the top four resources that can put you on the right track and help you stay compliant.

The U.S. Department of Labor has released revised model Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) forms to administer federal FMLA leave and a notice poster.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published its long-awaited final privacy and security regulations under HIPAA.

The IRS has released proposed rule provides some information on how employers will be notified if an employee applies for a premium subsidy / tax credit and how an employer may appeal a determination of premium subsidy eligibility that it believes is i…

The IRS has released proposed regulations on the health care reform employer "shared responsibility" penalty provision.

Over the past decade, plan sponsors have become familiar with the voluntary correction programs offered by the IRS and Department
of Labor, including the Service’s Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) and the DOL’s Voluntary Fiduciary C…

The EBSA has updated its audit protocols to include a review of plans’ compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), and wellness programs, in addition to the laundry list …

The circumstances behind a recent court decision were typical, and their consequences painfully predictable. Although the plan administrator "won," that victory does not reflect the huge — and entirely unnecessary — cost to the plan sponso…

Sponsors of 401(k) plans often fail to timely use or allocate forfeitures, thereby potentially disqualifying the plan. Recent IRS audits have revealed a renewed focus on the proper use of forfeitures — making compliance a top priority for plan sponsors.

In a somewhat surprising opinion, a Michigan federal trial court recently held that a third-party administrator (TPA) of two self-funded employer health plans was an ERISA fiduciary. As a result, the TPA was held liable for breaching its fiduciary dut…

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently issued guidance, through answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), clarifying how same-sex couples who are in state-recognized domestic partnerships, civil unions, or marriages should file their feder…

The federal government has issued a proposed rule that addresses some of the questions surrounding essential health benefits and determining actuarial and minimum value.

The federal government has issued a proposed rule that addresses how wellness programs may operate under the health care reform law beginning in 2014.

The "status quo" in Washington D.C. means that health care reform will proceed, and employers must be ready to comply.

Following recent announcements by both the IRS and the Social Security Administration, we now know most of the dollar amounts that employers will need to administer their benefit plans for 2013.

Sponsors of self-funded health plans often fail to offer COBRA coverage on a timely basis to employees who are placed on a leave of absence. This mistake can lead to a most unpleasant result – the denial of stop loss coverage.