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Big Data – Do the Positives Outweigh the Negatives?

The recent Google-Ascension personal health data transfer leak has caused quite an uproar. Google initiative Project Nightingale collected private health data, identifying details and all, from Ascension’s healthcare facilities across 21 states from millions of patients – unbeknownst to them until recently. Since the news broke new bipartisan legislation has been proposed to combat mining of sensitive health data from wearable devices (see the SMARTWATCH bill). And just a few days after the leak, Google almost published sensitive data tied to 100,000 chest x-rays. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), effective in January 2020, can’t come …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/big-data-do-the-positives-outweigh-the-negatives/

How a Law Firm Reduced Employee Contributions by $800 a Month

… after experiencing low enrollment rates. Not all office locations valued the same benefits, and yet the firm offered 12 medical plans that each favored only one state’s preferences. We re-underwrote the medical plan into three national plans and one state-specific plan. Not only did it better represent employee preferences nationwide, consolidating and redesigning plan offerings saved the firm $300,000. That’s a savings of $1,000 per employee.   $300,000 savings for the firm   $1,000 savings per employee Invest in your people. The next right move is to invest in your most valuable asset. After …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/how-a-law-firm-reduced-employee-contributions-by-800-a-month/

EPIC's Kimberly Cicero Attends Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference and Shares her Experience

… and how they found a feeling of family at their local union. Their journeys were hopeful; however, their struggles continue with abuse, sexism, and violence in the workplace. These women came together to share their experiences and gain knowledge, not to persecute their harassers but to shed light and demand change and equality. I have nothing but respect for these women and how they found hope in a trade that will provide solid benefits, purpose, and the future they deserve. From organizations across the country such as Build A Life in Massachusetts and Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) in New

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/tradeswomen-build-nations/

Compliance Alert: IRS Issues Proposed Regulations Clarifying Individual Coverage HRA Affordability

QUICK FACTS The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued proposed regulations to clarify how an applicable large employer (ALE) can offer an Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA) and meet the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) affordability standard. The proposed regulations follow prior guidance that had requested comments on various approaches to meet ACA affordability with certain HRAs that employers will be able to implement effective January 1, 2020. The IRS has suggested several safe harbors for employers to design ICHRAs to be deemed affordable under the ACA. The IRS has requested comments by the end of December and will likely publish …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/compliance-alert-irs-issues-proposed-regulations-clarifying-individual-coverage-hra-affordability/

Mental Wellbeing: from Intent to Action in the Workplace

… Corporation) forum focused on mental health and wellbeing in the Los Angeles legal community. I felt privileged and honored to be a panelist for this groundbreaking discussion and see firsthand from the audience what struggles and obstacles exist on a day-to-day basis from both the corporate and the employee point of view. Though this particular forum focused on the legal community these struggles are seen in many organizations across the country. Here are some questions I want to highlight: 1. As the younger generation is starting to grow in the workforce how can employers be more appealing, attracting …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/mental-well-being-from-intent-to-action-in-the-workplace/

Compliance Alert: Checklist of Key 2020 Requirements for Health & Welfare Benefit Plan Sponsors

… insurance laws which vary from state to state.  Administrators should also remember that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains in effect despite certain recent legislative and regulatory changes as well as legal challenges. Mark Yes, No, N/A or insert applicable comment in space provided on the downloadable PDF. EPIC Employee Benefits Compliance Services For further information on this or any other topics, please contact your EPIC benefits consulting team. Learn About Our Employee Benefits Compliance Services EPIC offers this material for general information only. EPIC does not intend this material to be, nor may any person receiving this information …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/compliance-alert-checklist-of-key-2020-requirements-for-health-welfare-benefit-plan-sponsors/

Compliance Alert: COBRA Series, Part IV: Common Errors and How to Correct Them

QUICK FACTS Failure to provide required COBRA notices or properly identify COBRA qualifying events are the top areas of non compliance. Employers should have processes in place to promptly and accurately identify the occurrence of QEs and offer of COBRA coverage within the required timeframe. Employers that fail to comply with COBRA can face IRS excise tax and statutory penalties under ERISA, lawsuits, attorney fees, and potential liability for expensive health claims. The excise tax on COBRA failures typically does not apply to failures that are corrected within 30 days after discovery. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/compliance-alert-cobra-series-part-iv-common-errors-and-how-to-correct-them/

Compliance Alert: Federal Agencies Release Guidance on Drug Manufacturer Coupons

QUICK FACTS The DOL, HHS, and Treasury have jointly issued FAQs to address group health plan concerns regarding the application of drug coupons towards annual cost-sharing limits under the ACA. The FAQs recognized potential conflicts with prior agency guidance. The agencies will address these inconsistencies in upcoming regulations in 2021. In the interim, the agencies have stated that they will not initiate enforcement against health plans or insurers for excluding the drug coupon amounts from the annual cost sharing limits, even in circumstances in which there is no medically appropriate generic equivalent available. The Department of Labor (DOL), Health …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/compliance-alert-federal-agencies-release-guidance-on-drug-manufacturer-coupons/