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President Biden Signs an Executive Order on Competitive Drug Pricing

On July 9, 2021, President Biden signed an expansive Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy (Order). The Order addresses several issues and areas of the economy in which the Biden Administration (Administration) plans to spur competition to promote small business, worker, and consumer interests. Among the many issues that Order addresses is the cost that healthcare consumers pay for prescription drugs and healthcare services. The Order sets out several administrative policies meant to decrease prescription drug prices. According to the Biden Administration, President Biden’s Order identifies several factors that have weakened competition in the marketplace. The …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/president-biden-signs-an-executive-order-on-competitive-drug-pricing/

Transparency and the Value of a Great Insurance Broker

… of consultants on all sides. There is no doubt that pharmacy cost transparency rules are needed and they are coming. Federal laws restrict “profits” to 15-20% of insurance premiums, but here is a relatively new game that’s being played: All of the four national health insurers own pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and other providers of healthcare. Owning providers allows the health insurers to expand profits in areas other than “premiums.” The federal law restricts profits on premiums but does not restrict profits on services rendered by providers owned by these insurance carriers. Axios announced days ago that the …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/transparency-and-the-value-of-a-great-insurance-broker/

HHS Announces the Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills Notice and First Interim Rule

The No Surprises Act is the balance billing or surprise billing relief portion of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). All of the No Surprises Act provisions take effect on January 1, 2022. Congress tasked certain federal agencies with engaging in extensive rulemaking proceedings during 2021. On July 1, 2021, The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL), Treasury, and the Office of Personnel Management (collectively known as “the Departments”) issued Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part I. The HHS COVID-19 RESOURCES Coronavirus Resource Center Return-to-Office Protocols & Considerations Client Panel What Employers Need to Know …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/hhs-announces-the-protections-against-surprise-medical-bills-notice-and-first-interim-rule/

EPIC Commits to Staying Connected!

EPIC Launches 2nd Annual Virtual Benefits Event Virtual Employee Benefits University is July 19 – 23 On Monday, July 19, we launched our second Virtual Employee Benefits University (VEBU). Our focus on this week-long learning event reflects our commitment to our employees, EPIC’s most valuable asset, and our virtual VEBU platform provides an interactive, high-touch environment to gather and learn from each other and our vendor partners. Our VEBU theme this year is the Five Pillars of Success: Innovation, Organic Growth, Collaboration, People First and M&A. Each day, we are presenting a key learning topic based on …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/epic-announces-2nd-annual-virtual-benefits-event/

Market Pulse Survey: Fertility Benefits

Are You Offering Fertility Benefits? Fertility benefits range from infertility diagnosis and medication, to IVF and artificial insemination. More expansive plans cover egg freezing, the procurement of donor eggs or embryos, and gestational surrogacy. It’s that time of year again! Time to make tough calls on where to focus your benefits budget dollars for 2022. Fertility benefits are getting more attention at exactly the time when the Millennial generation is becoming more widespread in the workforce. Not coincidentally, many members of that cohort are now in their prime childbearing years. However, employer coverage of fertility treatments is a mixed …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/market-pulse-survey-fertility-benefits/

Celebrating Diversity Through Inclusive Wellbeing Programs

Celebrations of the many achievements by minorities and the LGBTQ+ community marked the first half of 2021. But the call to raise awareness of the importance of acceptance carries on. And while the festivities have ended, these marginalized populations’ unique health and wellbeing needs require continued support. Viewpoints from Ayana Collins Take a moment to consider how discrimination negatively impacts seeking care. Microaggressions experienced at the workplace and within the healthcare system can lead to skepticism toward participating in an employer’s wellness program and distrust of the healthcare system – specifically toward healthcare providers. This lack of trust has led …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/celebrating-diversity-through-inclusive-wellbeing-programs/

Federal Court Rules Employers Can Require Employees to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines Before Returning to Work

… making it unlawful and contrary to public policy to require someone to receive the vaccine. Judge Hughes dismissed the case, ruling that if Houston Methodist Hospital terminated employees that failed to get vaccinated it would not be a wrongful termination. According to the District Court’s ruling, the vaccine requirement was not unlawful or coercive. Judge Hughes wrote that, under the Texas at-will employment statutes, an employee can only claim that a private employer committed a wrongful termination if the employer terminates the employee for refusing to commit a criminal act. According to the judge’s ruling, the employees

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/federal-court-rules-employers-can-require-covid-19-vaccines-to-return-to-work/

EEOC Provides Updated Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives

Quick Facts The EEOC recently provided clarifying guidance on permitted COVID-19 vaccine incentives under the ADA and GINA. According to the EEOC guidance, application of the EEOC wellness rules differs depending upon whether the pre-vaccination screening and COVID vaccine are administered by an unrelated third party. Employer-administered vaccine programs may not provide an incentive that is “coercive” in nature. Introduction Some employers require employees to obtain COVID vaccines as a condition of employment, while many others are instead choosing to offer incentives to encourage their workforce to obtain COVID vaccines. Any time an incentive is tied to …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/eeoc-provides-updated-guidance-on-covid-19-vaccine-incentives/