Employee Benefit News

Survey reveals high demand for health information technology workers

The federal government estimates that the health care system may need upwards of 50,000 additional employees to develop, implement and maintain health information technology in the near future. In light of this projection, results from the survey of 196 health information exchange initiatives show a growing need for workers proficient in health IT.

White House open to compromise over contraception

The Obama administration is willing to work with Catholic universities and hospitals in implementing new rules that require health insurance to cover birth control, a top adviser to the president's re-election campaign said on Tuesday.

The Impact of Exchanges on Employer-Based Health Care

Join us as we explore the impact of private and public health insurance exchanges on employers in 2012 and beyond. Will employers bow out of the game and start sending their employees to subsidized state exchanges and private exchanges? Or will employers modify their contribution strategies to reduce costs, avoid penalties, and retain talent?

Topics of discussion include:

• What private exchanges will look like and how “defined contribution” will work for large and small employers
• Findings from bswift’s new 2012 study examining employer contribution levels and trends
• Employer trends in consumerism and wellness to control health care costs

Speaking panel:

• Mike Brewer, President, Lockton Benefit Group
• Don Garlitz, Executive Director, bswift Exchange Solutions

Obama lawyers argue bulk of health law can survive

The Obama administration told the Supreme Court on Friday that nearly all of the health care overhaul can survive if the court declares unconstitutional the law's centerpiece provision requiring health coverage.

Managing and Protecting Your Employee Benefit Plans:

Successfully discharging your fiduciary duties requires time and effort. And knowing the rules is more crucial than ever. With the Department of Labor turning out new regulations — including new rules that change the landscape on fees as well as the definition of “fiduciary” — benefits professionals need to stay on top of these developments to stay out of trouble.

BNA draws upon veteran Department of Labor experts and experienced members of the BNA advisory board to describe and discuss new DOL regulatory and compliance requirements that directly affect how you manage your 401(k), health, and other employee benefit programs. You’ll learn:

• What are the new requirements?
• How can you meet them?
• What might happen if you don’t?

You’ll also get inside details on new fiduciary requirements … disclosure rules … and what you—as a plan fiduciary—must do to meet your obligations both to your participants and your company. Plus, you’ll get practical insights on new DOL regulations, both DOL and private ERISA litigation, and what you should do to protect yourself from a lawsuit.

Join us for this important and informative 60 minute complimentary web seminar – led by BNA advisory board member Sherwin Kaplan, Of Counsel at Nixon Peabody and a 23-year veteran of the Department of Labor – and ensure you and your plans are ready for the new year.

About the Panelists:

• Sherwin Kaplan, Of Counsel at Nixon Peabody
  Sherwin Kaplan is a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Department of Labor, having worked in Washington, DC, in both the Office of the Solicitor and the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration. As deputy associate solicitor in the Plan Benefits Security Division, Sherwin had litigation, enforcement, and regulatory responsibility for ERISA-covered pension and health plans throughout the country and participated in virtually all significant ERISA litigation that involved the Department of Labor. He is a frequent speaker on ERISA subjects at bar association meetings, education seminars, and training programs and is often quoted in national employee benefit plan journals and magazines.

• Eric Paley, Partner at Nixon Peabody
  Eric Paley is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation team within the Labor and Employment practice group. Eric focuses his practice on the law and regulations governing retirement plans (e.g., pension, profit-sharing, 401(k), and 403(b) plan compliance), welfare plans (e.g., group health plan, group insurance plan, cafeteria plan, HIPAA, and COBRA compliance), nonqualified deferred compensation plans and equity compensation plans. A significant portion of Eric’s practice also involves counseling retirement and welfare plan committees on their fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA.

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U.S. says 28 states took steps on health insurance exchanges

The Obama administration said last week that 28 states have taken steps to establish insurance exchanges under the 2010 health care law, despite the legal and political uncertainties threatening the overhaul.

Sebelius stands behind PPACA despite opposition

Thursday morning, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius addressed a ballroom in Washington, D.C. of more than 200 people invested in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Report shows 25% premium hike with no individual mandate

If the health care law is implemented without the individual mandate insurance premiums would rise by as much as 25%, according to a new report by the Urban Institute Health Policy.

IRS clarifies guidelines for W-2 reporting of health coverage costs

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires employers to report the aggregate cost of employer-sponsored health coverage on the Forms W-2 of its employees. In March 2011, the Internal Revenue Service issued interim guidance on the Form W-2 informational reporting requirement in the form of 31 Q&As. Recently, the Internal Revenue Service revised this interim guidance by issuing Notice 2012-9, which clarifies several of the original Q&As and adds some Q&As. …

Critics call for Supreme Court justices to step down from health care proceedings due to ties to industry, administration

Chief Justice John Roberts expressed confidence on Saturday in the decisions by his Supreme Court colleagues on when to recuse themselves, an issue that has emerged in the legal battle over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law.

CLASS dismissed

Arranging and financing long-term care is an issue everyone will face yet no one wants to talk about. However, following the Health Department's move to table the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, planning for long-term care is becoming part of the national conversation - and that presents opportunities and challenges for employers.

Supreme Court sets Obama health care arguments

Oral arguments on President Barack Obama's sweeping U.S. health care overhaul will last 5-1/2 hours spread over three days from March 26-28, the Supreme Court said on Monday.

Deficit may be biggest threat to health care reform

A mounting U.S. deficit could pose a much greater threat to the survival of President Barack Obama's health care reforms than either the Supreme Court or 2012 elections.

States to weigh in on basic health coverage

U.S. health officials will allow states to select the basic set of medical benefits that must be offered by insurance plans participating in new exchanges mandated by the federal health care overhaul, the government said on Friday.

Top concerns of a certain PPACA provision

Neil Trautwein, vice president and employee benefits policy counsel for the National Retail Federation, discusses why the essential health benefit provision of PPACA is raising concerns and what the Essential Health Benefits Coalition is doing to overcome those concerns.