Promises from drug makers to control persistent increases in drug costs seem to last only as long as it is politically expedient to make them. To counteract this behavior, the Trump administration has floated proposals such as promoting competition from generic drugs and changing Medicare drug-purchase policies. Some experts are not ruling out new regulations […]
The number of patients with claims in self-funded plans from $1 million to $1.5 million rose from 104 in 2014 to 194 in 2017 according to a new Sun Life Financial report. Over the four year period, high claims totaled $6.9 billion. Cancer represented $798.7 million, followed by metabolic disorder and hemophiliac disorder.
The Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) and the American College of Emergency Physicians have sued Blue Cross Blue shield of Georgia (BCBSGA) over Anthem’s policy of denying payment for emergency department visits that are later deemed non-emergent. The plaintiffs allege that the policy violates the ACA, which requires insurers to cover emergency care based on a […]
“Many [plan sponsors] are purchasing cyber liability insurance coverage to supplement their data security measures…. [M]any policies vest the decision to retain legal counsel in the insurer, rather than the policyholder…. Plan sponsors should also identify the plan’s service providers who have access to PII and PHI and ensure that the plan’s cyber liability policy […]
“At least two states (Massachusetts and New York) are threatening to sue the Trump administration over this new rule…. In several states, group health insurance laws will need to be revised to permit individuals and small groups to participate in AHPs if they are not otherwise members of pre-existing tax-qualified bona fide associations…. [M]any states […]
“On June 19, 2018, the Department of Labor (DOL) released a final rule that offers new options for associations to sponsor health plans for their members. These new options allow more small businesses to come together to create large employer plans free from many of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates applicable to individual and small […]
[P]lan sponsors should take the following steps as a result of this litigation.
“[T]he DOL has been known to send notices to plan sponsors who have filed a 5500 for their large retirement plan but have not filed a 5500 for their health and welfare plan…. [C]ompanies with large retirement plan are also likely to cover enough people for their welfare plan to have a filing requirement, although […]
“The IRS has issued FAQs that provide guidance to employers on the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit which was created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
Background: The FMLA Tax Credit, as provided under Internal Revenue Code Section 45S, enables eligible employers to claim a general business tax credit of up […]
“In Frye v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., a federal district court in Arkansas has held that an employee is entitled to proceeds from dependent life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance policies, despite the fact that her son was ineligible for such coverage due to his age at the time of his death.” […]