OVERVIEW On Dec. 20, 2019, President Trump signed into law a spending bill that prevents a government shutdown and repeals the following three taxes and fees under the Affordable Care Act (ACA): The Cadillac tax on high-cost group health coverage, beginning in 2020; The medical devices excise tax, beginning in 2020; and The health insurance […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced Dec. 27, 2019 that it is doubling the minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing for commercial motor vehicle drivers. The current rate of 25% of the average number of driver positions will be increased to 50%. The FMCSA is required to increase testing when […]
As workplaces across the nation focus on employee engagement, attraction and retention, workplace trends such as flexible scheduling and various ancillary offerings have become commonplace. One emerging trend is designed to help employees who have been out of the workforce for a few years. These types of programs are called returnships, and they essentially operate […]
Employers are always seeking ways to retain their valuable employees. Unfortunately, it can be difficult figuring out exactly why workers jump ship. Instead of waiting for a two weeks’ notice, many employers are conducting stay interviews as a way to head off potential departures. What Are Stay Interviews? Stay interviews are usually once-a-year meetings conducted […]
“CMS’ final rule fails to offer patients easy-to-understand information regarding their out-of-pocket obligations for care — so we feel obligated to contest the regulation. We contend the agency exceeded its authority and should go back to the drawing board.” – Chip Kahn, chief executive of the Federation of American Hospitals On Wednesday, Dec 4, […]
On Jan. 15, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) released its 2020 inflation-adjusted civil monetary penalties that may be assessed on employers for violations of a wide range of federal laws, including: The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA); The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); and The Occupational […]
Coronaviruses are fairly common and don’t typically affect humans. When they do, their effects are usually mild, as in the case of the common cold. However, deadlier variations of these coronaviruses have cropped up in recent years. Two examples of these evolved strains are the SARS virus of 2003 and the novel coronavirus, which was […]
A federal spending bill enacted at the end of 2019 included several provisions affecting benefit plans. The bill repealed three major taxes and fees under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—the Cadillac tax, the medical devices excise tax and the health insurance providers fee. The law also extended the PCORI fees for an additional 10 years. […]
OVERVIEW On Dec. 18, 2019, a federal appeals court ruled in Texas v. Azar that the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate is unconstitutional due to the elimination of the individual mandate penalty in 2019. The appeals court remanded the case to the lower court to determine whether the rest of the ACA can remain […]
OVERVIEW California has enacted two laws that require certain employers in the hospitality and transit industries to provide employee training on how to recognize and report human trafficking. The new laws, known as SB 970 and AB 2034, went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, but give subject employers until Jan. 1, 2020 or 2021 […]