News & Legislative
Health care reform: Businesses should consider going for the grandfather
by Andrew Wineke of the Gazette
The local benefits consulting firm Benefits Resources held a health reform update on Wednesday morning, one of a series of presentations on the health care reform bill going on in recent months. read more about Healtcare reform...>
Consumer-Driven Health Care: Turning Americans into Better Health Care Consumers. How Benefit Resources is using education to keep costs down.
By Heather Trese of Agent Sales Journal
When George Martin's wife needed an MRI on her shoulder, the doctor gave him directions to the hospital's lab. But Martin knew better: Instead of following his doctor's instructions, he called around to a few local labs, as well as the hospital's own facility, to obtain quotes on what the procedure would cost under his health savings account. Two independent MRI facilities each quoted him around $575, including his insurance discount. Read Turning Americans into Better Health Care Consumers...>
Questions Aplenty Surround Health Care Legislation
By Andrew Wineke of The Gazette
A seminar hosted earlier this month at the Antlers Hilton by Colorado Springs benefits management firm Benefits Resources was standing-room only.
"It's a constantly changing law," said Jeff Ahrendsen, vice president of Benefit Resources. "You have a lot of people who are curious about this." Read Healthcare Legislation article...>
Updated Notices for COBRA Subsidy and Notices to Employees
The latest information we have regarding COBRA model notices from the Department of Labor is contained in the link below. These can be used ASAP to help you get timely notices out regarding employee rights to COBRA and the COBRA subsidy benefit that was amended as recently as December 19, 2009, by the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010.… Read about the updated notices for COBRA Subsidy and Notices to Employees...>
COBRA Premium Subsidy Extended to 15 Months
The Senate has now joined the House of Representatives in passing legislation to extend the federal governments 65% COBRA premium subsidy. President Obama signed the bill into law on December 21, 2009. This date will therefore constitute the bills enactment date, to which many of the deadlines specified in the bill are tied.… Read more about COBRA Premium Subsidy Extended to 15 Months...>
Congress Expands Military Family Leave Coverage
In the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was signed by President Obama on October 28, 2009, Congress expanded the military-related family and medical leave that it created in the 2008 NDAA. The expansion became effective upon the President's signature. This new legislation means the Family Medical Leave Act regulations that became effective earlier this year are already outdated with respect to military-related FMLA leave.… Read more about Congress Expanding Military Leave Coverage...>
COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act
The COBRA subsidy provisions which were enacted last winter as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 are set to expire at the end of 2009. As you may recall, the COBRA subsidy program allows for the federal government to pay 65% of COBRA or state continuation premiums for up to nine months for employees who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, through an employer-administered tax credit program.… Read Cobra Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act...>
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA)
MMA is a voluntary prescription drug program for Medicare Part D eligible individuals. The final regulations provide that group health plans — or entities that offer prescription drug coverage on a group basis to active and retired employees and to Medicare Part D eligible individuals — must provide, or arrange to provide, a notice of creditable or non-creditable prescription drug coverage to Medicare Part D eligible individuals who are covered by, or who apply for, prescription drug coverage under the entity’s plan.… Read the summary of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003...>
Employer Compliance Alert: Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) Urgent action advised
On Oct.1, three federal agencies issued a lengthy package of regulations under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). Though it will take some time to digest this entire package, one point is abundantly clear: Health plan sponsors and their insurers should think twice - if not three or four times - before including questions concerning an individual's family medical history in any health risk assessment (HRA).… Read the summary of the GINA Act...>
HB 09-1057: Parental Involvement in K-12 Education Act
On June 3, 2009, Governor Bill Ritter signed the Parental Involvement in K-12 Education Act, agreeing with the General Assembly that the involvement of parents and legal guardians in school-sponsored academic activities is critical to the successful education of Colorado’s children… Read the summary of HB 09-1057: Parental Involvement Act...>
HB 1349: New Law Passed in Colorado!
Special Election Period for the Continuation of Health Care Coverage after Involuntary Termination from Employment…
Effective on Monday, June 1st, 2009, this bill specifically refers to individuals who were involuntarily terminated between 9/01/08 - 2/16/09. Read the summary of the State Continuation of Health Care Coverage Allowance for Colorado...>
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: DOL Posts new ARRA COBRA Subsidy Notices read ARRA COBRA Subsidy Notices...>
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) becomes law!
The Act is effective February 17, 2009, the day President Obama signed the bill. Read ARRA COBRA Federal Update article...>
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure
investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and
State and local fiscal stabilization, for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2009, and for other purposes. Read the final text of the ARRA legislation...>
New FMLA Regulations - Effective January 16, 2009. Read more regarding the FMlA Regulations...>
Industry News from HRinsider courtesy of UBA
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