June 20, 2024
Advocacy in Action | Labor and Delivery Bills
A member contacted her Patient Advocate to request an audit of delivery bills for her newborn baby. The Patient Advocate reviewed the EOB’s and discovered that the insurance carrier had over-applied her deductible. It appeared that the member had met her deductible and out of pocket expenses of ...
June 18, 2024
Employee Benefits | Offering Financial Wellness
Financial wellness is essential to employee satisfaction and organizational success in the rapidly evolving modern workplace. Financial wellness benefits can alleviate employee stress, leading to increased productivity, reduced turnover, and a more engaged workforce. Understanding Financial ...
June 11, 2024
Workplace Culture | Embracing No-Meeting Fridays
As companies strive to enhance productivity and employee well-being, No-Meeting Fridays is gaining traction. This initiative aims to tackle the inefficiencies associated with frequent meetings and create a more focused work environment. Without the constant interruptions of meetings, employees ...
June 4, 2024
Compliance Recap | May 2024
In May, employers sponsoring self-funded medical plans or an applicable HRA began preparing to submit the PCORI fee, due July 31. The IRS released inflation-adjusted amounts for 2025 HSAs, EBHRAs, and HDHPs. The ACA Section 1557 nondiscrimination regulations were finalized, broadening the ...
June 4, 2024
Dear HR Manager from Advocate for Mindful Breaks
Dear HR Manager, My team often eats their lunch while multitasking between bites or during Zoom calls. How can I encourage them to take mindful, restorative breaks instead? – Advocate for Mindful Breaks Dear Advocate for Mindful Breaks, Encouraging meaningful breaks can help enhance ...
May 21, 2024
Employee Benefits | Pay Equity
In the modern workplace, pay equity is not just a matter of fairness but a fundamental aspect of organizational health and employee satisfaction. Ensuring that all employees receive equal pay for substantially similar work is a legal mandate and can be a strategic advantage. Legal Foundations ...
May 18, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions about the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Fee
Updated May 2024 Q1: What plans does the PCORI fee apply to? A1: All plans that provide medical coverage to employees owe this fee. Medical coverage includes preferred provider (PPO) plans, health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, point-of-service (POS) plans, high deductible health plans ...
May 14, 2024
Workplace Culture | Enhancing Connection
As companies face challenges in employee engagement and retention, meaningful connections are essential. Prioritizing employee relationships can significantly enhance team morale. Communication is the cornerstone of any successful team and is not just about relaying information. It’s ...
May 14, 2024
IRS Releases 2025 Limits for HDHPs and HSAs
The IRS recently issued Revenue Procedure 2024-25 to announce the 2025 inflation-adjusted amounts that apply to health savings accounts (HSAs), excepted benefit health reimbursement arrangements (EBHRAs), and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). The newly announced figures result in increases ...
May 10, 2024
HHS Finalizes Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Regulations under the Affordable Care Act
The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) together with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released regulations under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (the “Final Rule”) on April 26, 2024. These final regulations follow ...
