July 5, 2023
DHS Terminates I-9 Form Remote Option Flexibility
For employers that remotely verified I-9 forms during the pandemic, the deadline for completing in-person verification is fast approaching. As background, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had provided additional flexibility due to COVID-19 to review I-9 documentation remotely and had ...
July 4, 2023
Dear HR Manager from Big Idea
Dear HR Manager, My team’s workload has increased exponentially, and we need a dedicated project manager. I want to propose a new position, but also want to be the person in that role. How do I pitch this big idea to my boss? – Big Idea Dear Big Idea, The best way to prepare for...
July 4, 2023
Compliance Recap | June 2023
June is preparation time for employers with self-funded plans and HRAs. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee will be due for those plans on July 31. Self-insured non-federal governmental health plans can no longer opt out of the MHPAEA, and COVID-19 Form I-9 ...
June 16, 2023
2023 The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Fee
What is a PCORI Fee? The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee, which is also referred to as the Comparative Effectiveness Fee, initially applied from 2012 to 2019. However, in December 2019, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 extended the fee to 2029. The fee ...
June 14, 2023
Advocacy in Action | In Network Status for Inpatient Treatment
Imagine, your child is having severe mental health issues. You can’t help so you have to send them to an inpatient facility to get the help that they need and deserve. Then, the facility claims to be out of network. Claims are being denied and the facility tries to bill you thousands of dollars ...
June 13, 2023
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Radical Offboarding
Employers put effort into communicating their brand to attract new talent. What if you put the same amount of effort into offboarding voluntary departures? Turn each exit into an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of departing team members. Employee exits are a natural part of the ...
June 6, 2023
Workplace Culture | Storytelling: Do You Hear the Beat?
Stories are all around you. People tell themselves stories all the time. Your manager, teams, and clients are 22 times more likely to remember new data if it is wrapped in a story. They are the glue that holds your ideas together. But people tend to spend little time purposefully honing ...
June 6, 2023
Compliance Recap | May 2023
May brought a reminder memo from the IRS on claims substantiation and payment of medical and dependent care expenses, and an update for the 2024 HDHPs, HSAs, and Excepted Benefit HRA limits. The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury issued an FAQ on the Braidwood ...
May 30, 2023
Dear HR Manager from Wage Worries
Dear HR Manager, A tenured employee on my team just found out we hired a new team member in the same position and level at a much higher salary. Both employees are in the same position and level within the organization. The tenured employee is rightfully upset. What should I do next to assess ...
May 23, 2023
Advocacy in Action | Scheduling Assistance
Our Patient Advocates are serious about service. As an independent resource, they are available to our members to help them resolve any concerns about their benefits program. They can assist with concerns about claims, patient referrals, balance bills, enrollment delays, or any benefits issue. ...
