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Is Government-Run Healthcare Better? Maybe Not

… 41.3 weeks). And the Canadian economy lost productivity and wages of almost $2.1 billion in 2019 according to a Fraser Institute study. An estimated 30,000 Canadians had treatment delayed for conditions such as diabetes and cancer from the end of March to December 2020. And employer-sponsored benefits costs in Canada are expected to increase by 7% this year. I suspect the U.S. will not fare as badly, since because of higher capacity, our country will catch up much more quickly. And certainly, before the pandemic, we didn’t show the same backlogs as our neighbor …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/is-government-healthcare-better-maybe-not/

Special Compliance Alert: Department of Labor Releases COBRA Subsidy Website and Model Notices

Quick Facts ARPA includes COBRA premium assistance that will cover 100% of COBRA premiums for certain Qualified Beneficiaries (QBs), referred to as Assistance Eligible Individuals (AEIs). Employers have special notice requirements to including updating existing notices and providing two new notices. The DOL has created a COBRA subsidy website where employers can find more information. The Department of Labor (DOL) has released model notices and a Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) subsidy information website related to the COBRA subsidy that was passed as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The website will be a central …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/department-of-labor-releases-cobra-subsidy-website-and-model-notices/

New York’s COVID-19 Vaccination Leave Law

… dose vaccine to four hours for each vaccination administration. The law is clear on several requirements about the COVID vaccination leave. The new law applies to all employers, regardless of size, with New York employees. The amendment requires employers to offer leave to any employed individuals without exception. If an employee alerts their employer that they need time off to get vaccinated, the employer must: Provide the paid leave in addition to any other leave required by law; Offer leave to the requesting employee regardless of any other similar leave policy; and Compensate employees at their regular rate of pay …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/new-yorks-covid-19-vaccination-leave-law/

Return-to-Office Planning for the Next Phase of the Pandemic

The Biden administration recently announced a target for states to open vaccine access to all people by May 1. Many states have already met this target while others have set their sights on dates before the May 1 deadline – prompting many organizations to start planning their return-to-office (RTO) strategies now. Vaccines prove to be more effective than originally expected, with evidence-based research of their efficacy, and employees are starting to show signs of remote work fatigue and isolation. Viewpoints from Craig Schmidt Vaccine Update In a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, the mRNA …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/return-to-office-planning-for-the-next-phase-of-the-pandemic/

Joint Agencies Release FAQs Clarifying Health Plan Coverage of COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines

… released on April 11, 2020, and June 23, 2020. Coverage for COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines Generally, the FFCRA, the CARES Act, and the implementing regulations require GHPs and insurers to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing of plan participants at no cost. The FFCRA requires group health plans to provide benefits for certain items and services related to diagnostic testing for COVID-19 when those services are furnished during the public health emergency (PHE) period beginning on March 18, 2020. The FFCRA requires plan issuers to offer this coverage without any cost-sharing (e.g., deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance), prior …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/joint-agencies-release-faqs-for-covid-19-testing-and-vaccines/

Expanded California COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Law

… California with greater than 25 employees. Previously SPSL only applied to Employers with greater than 500 employees. Paid leave is available to workers unable to work or telework for an employer due to any reasons that qualify the employee for SPSL. The qualifying reasons for SPSL are when the covered employee is: Subject to a quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19 as defined by an order or guidelines of the State Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or a local health officer who has jurisdiction over the workplace. If the covered employee is …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/expanded-california-covid-19-supplemental-paid-sick-leave-law/

Think You Don’t Qualify for the Employee Retention Tax Credit? Think Again!

… include recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. This webinar covered: Criteria for eligibility of the ERC How the ERC applies to schools How to calculate qualified wages How to claim the credit Strategies for maximizing the benefits of ERC and PPP PLAY RECORDING Our Guest Speakers Aprio is an award-winning, top-rated Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and advisory services firm, with clients in all 50 US States and 50+ Countries. Justin Elanjian Partner-in-Charge, PPP & ERC Services | Aprio Craig Fisher ERC Team Leader | Aprio ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Webinar Key Takeaways Employee Retention Credit Information APRIO ERC Services Page

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/employee-retention-tax-credit/

New Data on the Opioid Addiction Crisis

In August of last year, I wrote about the impact this new COVID-19 world would have on those struggling with drug addiction. With social distancing restrictions and shutdowns of many mental health and substance abuse programs, it was likely to expect that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would see an influx of drug-related deaths for the year 2020. In December 2020, the CDC released preliminary data and the findings are dismal. With data ending in May 2020, they reported over 81,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. – the highest number of overdose deaths ever …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/new-data-on-the-opioid-addiction-crisis/