Legislative News

Health Reform Exchange Provisions ‘Harmful,’ SIIA Says National Underwriter Company Arthur D. Postal

The Self-Insurance Institute of America Inc. said provisions in health care delivery system reform legislation, unveiled earlier this week, creating a new health insurance marketplace, or exchange, would be “harmful” to the employment-based health care system.

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No Time To Waste: HHS Issues HIPAA Breach Notification Rules Employee Benefit News

The Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule on Aug. 19, 2009, establishing standards for notification of breaches of unsecured protected health information (PHI).

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COBRA Subsidy Recipients Who Later Become Eligible For Insurance Coverage Should Notify Their Former Employer To Avoid A Penalty IRS.Gov

Individuals who have qualified and received the 65 percent subsidy for COBRA health insurance, due to involuntary termination from a prior job, should notify their former employer if they become eligible for other group health coverage.

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News

Size and Scope of Wellness Incentives Grow Larger Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Almost two out of three U.S. companies offer programs to keep employees healthy, and 66 percent of those offering programs use incentives, with a healthy number showing a return on investment (ROI) of greater than $1 for each dollar spent.

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Swine Flu: The Employer’s Guide to the Legal and Workplace Implications of a Swine Flu Outbreak Seyfarth Shaw LLP

By now, most people are familiar with the “Swine Influenza”, or “Swine Flu” virus (the “virus” or “disease”) that has been reported in Mexico and most recently in the United States and Europe.

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What Will Employers Do If Health Reform Is Enacted? CCH

It seems like just about everyone has offered their opinions, both pro and con, on the health reform debate.

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Benefits

Watson Wyatt Identifies Open Enrollment Benefit Trends for 2010 ProducersWeb

Many U.S. workers can expect higher costs for their employer-sponsored health care benefits when they receive their fall open enrollment benefit packages for 2010.

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Open Enrollment for 2010 Will Be Different Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Open enrollment for 2010 benefit programs will be a lot different. There’s a lot happening—the economy, the national debate on health care, the increased influence of social media.

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Mental Health Parity: Are Separate Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket Maximums Allowed? Deloitte

Facing the challenge of complying with the new mental health parity requirements that become effective for plan years beginning after October 3, 2009, employers and their advisers are asking whether separate deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are allowed for mental health and substance abuse disorder benefits.

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