Health Care Webinar Archives

Flowchart

Mid-year election changes are perhaps the most common benefit compliance issue that employers must deal with. When employees ask to add or drop benefit coverage mid-plan year, employers must understand HIPAA special enrollment rules and §125 election change rules to determine whether the mid-year election change request can be granted. This month’s webinar will provide a framework for thinking through the rules that apply to mid-year election changes and will also provide examples of frequently asked questions.

Benefits During Leaves of Absence

January 25, 2024

Recording

Many employers struggle with how to handle health and welfare benefit eligibility and employee contributions during employee leaves of absence. We encourage employers to proactively think about their leave policies and how they will handle benefits and payments while an employee is out on leave. In this webinar, we will provide an overview of the compliance requirements for handling health and welfare benefits during different types of leave – protected, unprotected, paid, and unpaid – along with some guidelines for employers to follow in developing and administering their leave policies.

Year-End Benefits Review & Wrap-Up

December 14, 2023

Recording

Handout

In 2023, human resource and employee benefits professionals were required to continue implementing various transparency requirements as well as keep up with the growing list of other benefit compliance requirements. This webinar will review important employee benefits compliance issues from 2023 and look forward to developments coming in 2024 that will impact your benefit plans.

Employer 1094/1095 Reporting & Gag Clause Attestations

November 16, 2023

Recording

Handout

As we near the end of 2023, we’ll focus on two reporting requirements that apply to most employers offering group health plan coverage. A new requirement, gag clause attestations indicating that contracts do not contain prohibited gag clauses, are due for the first time by December 31, 2023. We’ll walk through the attestation requirements and how employers attest if needed. We’ll spend the rest of the webinar providing a refresher and discussing some of the changes for reporting offer of coverage and enrollment information early in 2024 on Forms 1094 and 1095.

Gag Clause Attestation & Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

October 19, 2023

Recording

Handout

In honor of October’s HSA awareness month, this month we will focus on HSAs. As more and more employers offer at least one high deductible health plan (HDHP) option, employers play a role in educating their employees about HSAs. The goal of the webinar will be to provide employers with some tricks and tips to help employees navigate HSA-eligibility, HSA contribution limits, and HSA reimbursements.

Qualified Medical Child Support Orders (QMSCOs)

September 21, 2023

Recording

Handout

Earlier in 2023, the agencies released a new template for the National Medical Support Notice (NMSN), which state agencies are required to begin using by November 2023. When employers receive such notices requiring coverage to be made available to an employee’s child, the employer needs to follow Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO) procedures, but many employers are unfamiliar with these requirements. This webinar will provide an overview of QMCSO requirements, answer some of employers’ most frequently asked questions, and also walk-through the changes and clarifications in the latest NMSN template.

Employer Contribution Strategies

August 24, 2023

Recorded Link

Handout

As many employers are beginning to think about benefit contribution strategies for 2024, this webinar will remind employers of different compliance considerations, including affordability and nondiscrimination rules. In addition to compliance, we’ll also discuss different ways that employers might use employer contribution strategies to attract and retain employees, to incent employees or their family members to waive coverage, and perhaps allow family members to qualify for Exchange subsidies now that the family glitch has been fixed.

Regulatory & Legislative Update

July 20, 2023

Recorded Link

Handout

As we hit the midway point of 2023, it’s the perfect opportunity to review what’s happened so far in 2023 and then also look forward to what is expected for the remainder of the year. This month’s webinar will focus on recent regulations, FAQs, and other guidance issued over the previous months to help employers keep up-to-date on the ever-changing employee benefit compliance requirements, and we may even provide some guesses as to what else we may see in the upcoming months.

Health & Welfare Benefit Nondiscrimination Rules

June 22, 2023

Recorded Link

Handout

We all know we need to comply with various employee benefit nondiscrimination requirements, but what does this really look like in practice? In this webinar, we’ll cover the basics of nondiscrimination requirements for cafeteria plans, self-funded group health plans, dependent care assistance programs (DCAPs), and group life insurance. We’ll also go over what the different tests look like, and what we see as common pitfalls in benefit design.

5500 Reporting: Tips & Tricks

May 18, 2023

With the 5500 reporting deadline approaching for calendar year plans, it is a good time to review the general reporting requirements as well as some of the more common (and uncommon) issues employers may face when reporting. We will touch on when to use a wrap document, counting participants, which schedules are needed, special codes for terminating and shrinking plans, plans with multiple policy years, and more.

End of the Federal Emergencies

April 20, 2023

The White House announced that it intends to end both the national and public health emergencies on May 11, 2023. This will end 3 years of COVID-related relief requiring group health plans to cover COVID diagnostic testing and vaccines, and extending deadlines normally applicable under ERISA, COBRA, and HIPAA. As federal emergencies come to an end, employers of all sizes offering group health plans will be impacted. Join us to understand how to unwind the COVID-related requirements that will be going away.

Regulatory Update

March 23, 2023

There will be lots of regulatory ground to review by end of first quarter, including a review of transparency requirements and reviewing the impact of the recent fix to the so-called “Family Glitch.” During this webinar, we’ll cover these and other important regulatory news that impacts employee benefit.

Domestic Partners

February 23, 2023

More and more employers continue to add benefits for domestic partners to their suite of product offerings. With this come more and more questions with respect to exactly how benefits for domestic partners work: When must income be imputed? How do we handle children of domestic partners? Do we have to offer domestic partner coverage? What proof of relationship is required? And more! This webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of all the compliance considerations employers should consider when deciding whether to cover domestic partners – consider this your Domestic Partner Benefits 101 course!

Dealing with Enrollment Mistakes & Changes

January 19, 2023

Fourth Quarter is over, and everyone has made their elections. All is finally calm and – oh wait, that’s not true at all. Now it’s time to address all the post-enrollment benefits questions that inevitably arise, including claims of mistaken enrollments. During this webinar, Benefit Comply staff will address some of the most common questions and issues we see employers face post-enrollment and will cover what types of election changes may be made and under what circumstances.

Regulatory Review & Wrap-Up

December 15, 2022

It was another busy compliance year in 2022, with prescription drug reporting requirements, mental health parity, the Dobbs decision, and even ongoing Covid-related issues impacting employers. This webinar will review important employee benefits compliance issues from 2022 and look forward to important legal and regulatory developments coming in 2023 that will impact your benefit plans.

Prescription Drug Reporting: Final Review before December Reporting Deadline

November 17, 2022

You’ve heard it by now – prescription drug reporting under the Transparency in Coverage Final Rule is coming due December 27, 2022, with subsequent annual reporting due June 1 of each year. Benefit Comply has conducted a number of webinars and issued several communications on this topic, and this webinar will serve as a wrap-up of everything we know about the requirements to date to help ensure employers are well equipped to meet the first reporting deadline.

Common Questions on HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs

October 20, 2022

Account based plans are not new, but they continue to generate many questions from employers, from basic compliance requirements to practical administrative issues. This webinar will provide a general overview on the differences between these three benefits and will address some of the most common compliance questions we see from employers who administer these plans.

Employer Reporting

September 22, 2022

IRS enforcement efforts around §4980H offer of coverage requirements and §§6055 and 6056 employer reporting requirements continue to increase, resulting in some employers having to pay out employer shared responsibility payments and reporting penalties. With relief no longer available for good faith reporting efforts, it is more important than ever for employers to make sure that reporting on Form 1094-C and Form 1095-Cs is complete and accurately reflects the coverage offered to full-time employees. In addition, all employers offering self-funded (or level-funded) group health plans must report for all covered individuals, including in those states now requiring reporting at the state level.

Regulatory Review

August 25, 2022

The first half of 2022 has been a busy year as the initial requirements under transparency and surprise billing became effective. We also expect more in the way of regulatory and legislative activity, so please join us for this webinar where we’ll cover these and other important regulatory news that impacts employee benefit plans.

SCOTUS Abortion Ruling: Considerations and Impacts for Employee Benefits Plans

July 21, 2022

Employers have many questions about how the recent SCOTUS Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health ruling could impact benefit plans. The ruling, by itself, does not change anything specifically related to employee benefits. However, it opens the door for significant state legislation that may have an effect on some employer plans. Some of the issues we will discuss include:

Differences between the possible effect on fully-insured vs. self-insured plans
Considerations related to offering a benefit to assist employees who travel to receive an abortion
When might ERISA preemption be a factor to consider
And more

Update on Transparency, Surprise Billing, and Prescription/Health Cost Reporting Requirements

June 23, 2022

Requirements of the No Surprises Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act related to transparency, surprise billing, and prescription drug/health cost reporting take effect throughout 2022, with several requirements taking effect July 1. During this webinar, we’ll review the basic requirements of each piece of legislation and bring you up to speed on the latest developments and compliance requirements.

Overview of 5500 Reporting Requirements

May 19, 2022

With the 5500 reporting deadline approaching for calendar year plans, it is a good time to review the general reporting requirements and related considerations. During this webinar, we’ll cover both the regulatory and practical considerations for employers, such as the who, what, and where of the filing requirements and the importance of having an ERISA wrap document in place for multiple benefit plans.

Overview of State Laws Impacting Employee Benefits

April 21, 2022

We know there are myriad state laws out there, and keeping track of them can be a full-time job. Many state laws are employment law related and outside the scope of employee benefits, but there are some that directly affect employer sponsored benefit plans. During this webinar, we will provide an overview of some of the most relevant state laws that benefits advisors and employers need to understand.

Regulatory and Legislative Update

March 24, 2022

We expect significant updates on the regulatory front by the end of first quarter 2022, especially related to new requirements surrounding health plan transparency and surprise billing. During this webinar, we'll cover these and other important regulatory news that impacts employee benefit plans.

Section 125 Election Changes & HIPAA Special Enrollments

January 27, 2022

Ever been confused about the difference between midyear election changes under Section 125 and special enrollment events under HIPAA? Why are some types of changes required but others are only permissible? How do these events interact with one another? During this webinar, we'll walk through the regulatory requirements for Section 125 election changes and HIPAA special enrollments, focusing on how these events differ and how they may overlap. We'll also talk about what language is required in an employer's cafeteria plan document to permit midyear election changes under Section 125 and why communication with carriers and stop loss vendors is important for administering these types of changes.

Regulatory Review & Wrap-Up

December 16, 2021

2021 continued to be a difficult year for human resource and employee benefits professionals. From COBRA subsidies to surprise billing and health cost transparency requirements, there have been plenty of legal and regulatory changes and challenges to contend with. This webinar will review important employee benefits compliance issues from 2021 and look forward to developments coming in 2022 that will impact your benefit plans.

Wellness Rules Overview

November 18, 2021

Recorded Link
Presentation
Handouts

Handouts

Earlier this year, the EEOC released long-awaited proposed rules addressing the type of incentive that can be offered for participation in a wellness program without violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). We have also seen many employers express interest in establishing an incentive for employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This webinar will review these regulations along with the existing HIPAA wellness rules, and will help employers think about how to ensure their wellness plans are structured in a compliant manner.

Employer Reporting

October 21, 2021

Employer reporting is the gift that keeps on giving. From classifying employees correctly, to changing between measurement methods, to understanding how to properly code a 1095, the twists and turns can make any employer’s head spin. Attend this webinar to make sure you are ready for this year’s employer reporting season. We’ll also cover some state-specific employer reporting requirements to pay attention to.

Handling MLR Rebates

September 23, 2021

Recorded Link
Presentation
Handouts

It’s that time of year again! Employers who sponsor a fully-insured group health plan may be receiving a Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) rebate from their insurers. In this webinar, we’ll be discussing several of the common issues related to these rebates, including how much (if any) of the rebate should be distributed to plan participants; how quickly the participant’s share must be distributed; options employers have in distributing the participant’s share; and the tax consequences of the various available distribution options.

Legal & Regulatory Update and Transparency Notice & Disclosure Requirements

August 26, 2021

It continues to be a busy year, and we expect more regulatory and legislative activity that impacts employee benefit plans. This month’s webinar will focus on new regulations, FAQs, and other guidance issued over the previous months to help employers keep up-to-date on all the ever-changing employee benefit compliance requirements! We will also spend some time discussing the health cost transparency rules, including notice and disclosure requirements, that apply to employer sponsored health benefit plans under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) 2021.

Employee Benefit Nondiscrimination Rules Review

July 22, 2021

We all know we need to comply with various employee benefit nondiscrimination requirements, but what does this really look like in practice? In this webinar, we’ll cover all the basics of nondiscrimination requirements for different kinds of plan; self-insured plans, fully-insured plans, cafeteria plans, and DCAPs – including what the different tests look like and what we see as common pitfalls in benefit design.

Common Benefits Mistakes Employers Make

June 24, 2021

We know it’s hard for employers to stay on top of the myriad compliance requirements under ERISA, COBRA, the ACA, etc. That is why we love to hold this webinar focusing on some of the common mistakes we see with respect to benefit design, plan administration, and other employee benefits issues. We hope this will help employers identify where there may be existing compliance gaps and provide the information needed to confidently make changes moving forward.

Regulatory Update

May 20, 2021

It has already been a busy year, and we expect more the regulatory and legislative activity that impacts employee benefit plans. This month’s webinar will focus on new regulations, FAQs, and other guidance issued over the previous months to help employers keep up-to-date on all the ever-changing employee benefit compliance requirements!

Deep Dive into the COBRA Subsidy Rules

April 22 & 23, 2021

FAQ

We are shifting the topic of April’s webinar to focus on the significant administrative challenges posed by the new COBRA subsidy that was passed as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. The regulatory agencies are expected to release significant guidance in April and the Department of Labor will be releasing model notices. We will cover this new guidance and answer other questions employers have as they try to comply with these new rules. We will reschedule the nondiscrimination webinar for a future date.

Regulatory and Legislative Update

March 25, 2021 and March 26, 2021

Update: Given the passing of the $1.9T COVID relief bill, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the bulk of this webinar will focus on this bill's impact to COBRA and other benefits topics.

The new administration is expected to issue some executive orders and make some regulatory changes to rules that affect employee benefits plans. Congress may also include benefits-related provisions in any COVID-19 relief measures it passes. In this webinar, we will review any changes already made and discuss proposed regulatory and legislative changes.

Answering Employer Compliance Questions

February 18, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic and related economic challenges have made employee benefits administration more complicated than ever. In this webinar, the Benefit Comply compliance team will address actual employee benefits compliance questions posed by employers from across the country. Get answers to the question employers are asking about the most.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) Administration

January 21, 2021

§129 DCAPs are becoming more popular among employers and employees. The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the administration of these programs. The IRS has provided some flexibility in response to the pandemic and Congress is considering additional changes. Attend this webinar for up-to-date information on properly administering these programs.

2020 Benefits Regulatory Wrap-Up and a Look Forward to 2021

December 17, 2020

2020 has been a heck of a year for human resource professionals and employee benefits managers. As if dealing with a global pandemic and the related economic challenges was not enough, Congress and the regulatory agencies imposed several new benefits-related responsibilities on employers. This webinar will review important employee benefits developments from 2020 and look forward to possible changes coming in 2021.

Employer Reporting 2020 Update

November 19, 2020

Benefit and employment-related changes that employers made during 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may make 1094/1095 employer reporting particularly challenging for some employers this year. There are also four states (including California) and the District of Columbia that now require reporting for employers with employees living in those states. Attend this webinar to make sure you are ready for this year’s employer reporting season.

Answers to Your Employee Benefits Questions

October 22, 2020

The Benefit Comply compliance group answers hundreds of employer compliance questions every month. In this webinar, we will answer some of the most common – and most important – questions posed by human resource and employee benefits professionals just like you.

Employee Benefits Compliance 2020 Mid-Year Update

August 20, 2020

Presentation and Q&A

2020 has been a difficult year for human resource and employee benefits professionals for many obvious reasons. On top of everything else, there has not been this much change or new rules released in such a short span of time since the early days of the Affordable Care Act! This webinar will bring employers up-to-speed on the new and developing rules that apply to employer-sponsored health and welfare benefits. What is required and what is optional? What is temporary and what is permanent? What additional changes may be on the horizon?

Benefits During Breaks-in-Service, Leaves, and Re-Hire Issues

June 25, 2020

Presentation + Q&A

Wouldn’t it be nice if employees never missed a day of work or ever took a leave! Until then (when pig’s fly), one of the most difficult administrative issues employee benefits managers face is when employees have some kind of break-in-service that effects eligibility. Many different rules can apply in these circumstances. Employers may have to consider FMLA coverage requirements, ACA-related waiting periods and re-hire rules, and more. Plan eligibility could even be different depending on if the employer is using the monthly measurement, or the look-back measurement method to define full-time status. In this webinar we will help you sort out how to handle these “break-in-service” situations.

Employer Alert! Regulators Make Big Changes to Benefit Plan Notice and Disclosure Deadlines Due to COVID-19 National Emergency

Thursday, May 21, 2020 & Friday, May 22, 2020

Presentation + Q&A - coming soon!

Recorded link - coming soon!

The DOL and IRS have issued rules that extend several important benefits deadlines due to the COVID-19 national emergency. The new rules extend the time frames for COBRA elections, COBRA payments, and HIPAA special enrollments. The DOL also issued Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01 which gives employers some flexibility in the timing of ERISA required disclosures. The extension of COBRA election and payment timelines means that eligible participants will be able to wait to elect COBRA for longer than the normal 60 day election period, and employers will not be permitted to terminate COBRA coverage due to nonpayment for an extended period of time. Deadlines for mid-year election change subject to the HIPAA special enrollment rules are also extended. We were planning to cover Medicare and employee benefits issues in this month's compliance webinar, but due to these developments we will be covering these important rules instead, and will hold our Medicare webinar at a later date.

We Answer Your Employee Benefits Questions on Pressing COVID-19 Issues

Thursday, April 23 & Friday, April 24, 2020

Presentation + Q&A

In this webinar we will review actual employee benefits compliance questions we have received regarding COVID-19 benefits related issues, such as enrollment changes including delays in open enrollments, how reduced hours may affect full-time status, and more. The relevant guidance is changing daily, so join us for the most up to date information available.

Coronavirus + HSA Administration and Compliance

Thursday, March 26, 2020

HSA FAQ's

UPDATED CONTENT 3/16/20: The webinar was originally designed to help employers understand HSA administration and compliance. We now intend to spend the first portion of the webinar covering COVID-19 benefits related issues, such as enrollment changes including delays in open enrollments, how reduced hours may effect full-time status, and more. We will then provide a shortened version of the HSA compliance discussion we had originally planned. Please note the webinar may run a little longer than the scheduled 60 minutes.

Properly administering HSA benefits has always been difficult for employers. IRS rules are often complicated, and improper administration can lead to serious tax consequences for the employer and employees. New benefit arrangements such as concierge medical services, on-site medical clinics, and other reimbursement arrangements can create HSA eligibility issues. This session will cover important compliance rules applicable to HSAs, such as coordination with Medicare eligibility, employer contributions rules, and more.

Properly Administering HIPAA Special Enrollments

Thursday, February 20
Recorded link

HIPAA special enrollment rules require an employer sponsored group health plan to allow certain individuals to enroll mid-plan year. Attend this webinar to learn the details about HIPAA special enrollment rights including:

What events trigger a special enrollment opportunity
Who is eligible to enroll and what benefits can they elect
How long individuals have to enroll

We will also discuss how rules such as the Cafeteria plan “tag-along” rule could impact who is offered coverage in the event of a HIPAA special enrollment.

2019 Employer Reporting and How to Avoid IRS §4980H Penalties

Thursday, January 23

Employer reporting season is upon us again. Even though the individual mandate has been repealed, employer reporting is still required with the IRS making few changes to the rules. Did you know that there is a new rule that allows employers not to provide a Form 1095 to certain employees? In this webinar we will review the employer reporting process and forms. We will also discuss how reporting errors often trigger an IRS inquiry, and will discuss what to look for in your reporting to minimize your chance of having to deal with an IRS attempt to collect a §4980H penalty.

2019 Regulatory Wrap-Up and a Look Forward to 2020

Thursday, December 19

Compliance was in the news again in 2019. New regulations and benefits related court cases made it hard for employers to keep up with all of the changes. In 2020 healthcare and employee benefits will become even bigger news as we prepare for the November elections. Attend this webinar to make sure you did not miss any employee benefits changes that occurred in 2019. We will also look forward into 2020 and discuss the possible developments that could affect employer plans.

Answers to Your Employee Benefits Questions

Thursday, November 21

The Benefit Comply compliance group answers hundreds of employer compliance questions every month. In this webinar we will share some of the most common, and most important, questions recently posed by employers. Attend this webinar and get answers to questions that you will likely have to address as you manage your employee benefit plans.

How to Handle Employee Benefits Notices and Disclosures

Thursday, October 24

Employers are responsible for a wide range or employee benefits related notices and disclosures. Unfortunately, the rules often vary, depending on the particular notice or disclosure. There are several requirements an employer needs to keep in mind, including who must receive it, when does it need to be sent, can it be sent electronically, can it be combined with other notices, and more. This webinar will review the specific requirements for a variety of important notices and disclosures including the SPD, SBC, HIPAA Special Enrollment Notice, Part D Notice, Exchange Notice, Initial General COBRA Notice and more.

Why ERISA Plan Design & Documentation Matters

Thursday, September 26
Recorded Link

All employers who sponsor health and welfare plans must have plan documentation and provide an SPD to participants. However, there are so many questions to consider. How do we design our plans? Do we use wrap documents or create separate plans? How does that impact our filing and reporting requirements? What are common problems with plan documentation? We will also discuss ways that missing or incorrect information or documentation creates legal risks for the employer..

Employee Benefit Technology & Compliance

Thursday, August 22
Recorded Link

Technology can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to employee benefits compliance. Technology can help benefits managers be more efficient, such as using electronic distribution of required notices, but rules must be followed. Good benefit administration systems can also assist with important employee communications and documentation. At the same time technology can increase risk. Breaches of electronic PHI are becoming more common, so employers must be more vigilant in how they protect this data, and new healthcare technologies like telehealth can create compliance challenges. This webinar will explore the intersection, both good and bad, of benefits technology and employer benefits compliance obligations.

New Standalone HRA Regulations Released

Webinar Date: Thursday, July 25
Recorded Link

The Department of the Treasury (IRS), Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have issued final regulations designed to expand the use of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). The new rules would allow HRAs to be used to pay for individual health insurance policies, create a new type of limited stand-alone HRA, and allow employees to have premiums for some types of individual policies reimbursed on a pre-tax basis through a Section 125 cafeteria plan. Attend this webinar to find out how the new HRA rules work and how they may be used by employers.

Into the Weeds - Again! Specific Answers to Employee Benefit Questions

Webinar Date: Thursday, June 20, 2019

Recorded Link - Coming Soon

Presentation - Coming Soon

Q&A - Coming Soon

In the newest episode of this popular webinar, we will review actual employee benefits compliance questions we have received and go over our answers in detail. In this session we will discuss questions about benefits offered to employees on leave, responding to IRS collection efforts, spousal carve-outs, and more. Learn from real-life compliance issues other employers are dealing with.

Employee Benefits During Mergers & Acquisitions

Webinar Date: May 23, 2019

Q&A - Coming Soon

Mergers and acquisitions create complicated employee benefit administration challenges. The type of business transaction, whether it's a stock or asset sale, can have an impact on compliance obligations such as COBRA. Transitioning employees to new plans and combining benefits can also create compliance challenges. This session will focus on health and welfare plan issues for employers going through some kind of merger or acquisition.

Employee Benefits During an FMLA Leave

Webinar Date: Thursday, April 18, 2019

Employers face significant benefits administrative challenges when employees take an FMLA leave. This session will discuss in detail the employer’s obligations, employee communication requirements, and other rules specific to employee benefits during and after FMLA leave. This session is designed for employers with at least 50 employees who are subject to FMLA.

"Good News" Compliance

Webinar Date: March 23, 2019

Employers typically think employee benefits compliance is complicated, confusing, and full of bad news. In this webinar we are looking at the compliance world from a different angle. We will cover good news about compliance obligations that are going away, like the end of the PCORI fee, and the rescission of the HPID requirement. We will review ways that employers can use compliance rules to save money or avoid risk, for example, how an employer can reduce COBRA costs by helping qualified beneficiaries understand their other options. We will also share ideas about how to use the IRS employer safe harbor rules to reduce the employer’s plan contribution requirements.

HIPAA Privacy and Security Mistakes Employers Make

Webinar Date: February 28, 2019

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has completed its second round of HIPAA Privacy and Security Audits. We now have more information on what employers are doing wrong that is putting them at risk. More importantly, this webinar will focus on strategies employers can implement to better comply with these complicated rules.

Medicare and Employee Benefits

Webinar Date: Thursday, January 24, 2019

Recorded Link

Presentation

Q&A

This webinar will concentrate on how Medicare affects employer sponsored benefits. Topics will include Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) rules which prohibit employers from taking certain actions related to employees eligible for Medicare; Medicare entitlement and HSA eligibility; how Medicare affects employees’ and dependents’ COBRA rights, and more.

2018 Regulatory Wrap-Up and a Look Forward to 2019

Webinar Date: Thursday, December 20

Recorded Link

2018 was another interesting year for employers, with new regulations and activity in the courts having an impact on how employers manage benefit plans. 2018 also saw increased enforcement by the IRS of the ACA employer shared responsibility rules (the “employer mandate”). This webinar will review what actually happened (and didn’t happen) in 2018. We will also look forward into 2019 and discuss the possible developments that could affect employer plans.

Tobacco Related Wellness Programs

Webinar Date: Thursday, November 29

Tobacco and smoking-related programs are one of the most common wellness incentive arrangements offered by employers, but they must be done right. Employers often struggle with the required reasonable alternative method of earning the incentive that must be offered in some programs, and if any medical testing is done the EEOC wellness rules must be taken into consideration. Employers must also be prepared to deal with new developments, like e-cigarettes and medical marijuana.

Into the Weeds - Again! Answers to Specific Employer Benefits Questions We've Received

Webinar Date: Thursday, October 25

In the newest episode of this popular webinar we will review actual employee benefits compliance questions we have received and go over our answers in detail. We will discuss questions about ACA enforcement, the voluntary plan safe harbor, HSA eligibility, the tax treatment of discriminatory benefits, and more. Learn from real life compliance issues other employers have faced.

New Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Rules

Webinar Date: Thursday, September 27

The Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and Treasury have released new information regarding the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), including FAQs related to nonquantitative treatment limitations and guidance on new disclosure requirements. The DOL has also released a self-compliance tool. This webinar will review existing MHPAEA rules and discuss disclosure guidance and the clarifications from the FAQs.

5500 Filing and Plan Structure Issues

Webinar Date: Thursday, August 23

This webinar will review health plan Form 5500 filing requirements and discuss plan design issues that impact 5500 filing. We will also preview significant changes to 5500 filing that have been proposed by the DOL, including the new Schedule J, and possible filing requirements for small employers.

New Association Health Plan Regulations

Webinar Date: Thursday, July 26

Recorded Link

The Department of Labor (DOL) has released the much-anticipated Association Health Plan (AHP) regulations. The new AHP rules are designed to make it easier for groups of small employers and individuals to participate in health plans sponsored by different types of organizations. This webinar will cover the AHP regulations and the changes they make to existing rules. We will also discuss the possible affect the rules will have on the health insurance market.

Employee vs. Independent Contractors - Why It Matters and What the Future Looks Like

Webinar Date: Thursday, June 21

The relationship between employers and their workers is changing. Many companies now use a mix of employees, independent contractors, “Gig” workers, shared employees, and more. This webinar will review employee benefit compliance issues related to different worker types. We’ll also share information on employer and legislative initiatives that have the potential to significantly change the way we treat some workers and the rules that apply.

EEOC wellness case.

Employee Benefits Compliance Update

Webinar Date: Thursday, May 24

While no major benefits legislation is expected to be passed in 2018, the regulatory agencies are busy introducing new rules. The IRS continues to try to collect employer penalties under §4980H and the AARP – EEOC court case could force employers to rethink their wellness strategies. This webinar will bring employers up-to-date on important developments including association health plan regulations, rules expanding the use of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), IRS collection efforts, and the status of the AARP – EEOC wellness case.

Compliance Issues Related to Emerging Employee Benefit Strategies

Webinar Date: Thursday, April 26

Many employers are implementing new strategies in their attempt to control costs while still offering attractive benefits to employees. In adopting these programs, the employer must consider various compliance implications. This webinar will cover compliance issues related to spousal carve-outs, on-site medical clinics, concierge and direct preventive care provider arrangements, reference-based pricing, and more.

HIPAA Privacy and Security for Employers

Webinar Date: Thursday, March 29

Many employers do not understand the full scope of compliance required by the HIPAA Privacy and Security rules. Many employers mistakenly believe that their plans are not subject to HIPAA because they are fully insured, or that employee training is the only thing they need to worry about. To comply with HIPAA, most employers should have written HIPAA policies in place that govern the plan’s use of Protected Health Information (PHI). Employers must also comply with a number of other HIPAA requirements, including: entering into written agreements with Business Associates, implementing safeguards to secure PHI, and conducting a Security Risk Assessment, to name just a few.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) investigates thousands of HIPAA privacy and security complaints every year and is also currently conducting its second round of random HIPAA audits. This webinar will help employers understand how to effectively comply with HIPAA and be in a position to respond to any HHS audits or inquiries.

HSA Administration and Compliance

Webinar Date: Thursday, February 22

IRS §4980H Penalty Collection Efforts and Why Employer Reporting Still Matters

Webinar Date: Thursday, January 25, 2018

2017 Regulatory Wrap-Up and a Look Forward to 2018

Webinar Date: Thursday, December 21, 2017

The Future of Wellness Plans After the AARP v. EEOC Decision

Webinar Date: Thursday, November 16, 2017

ACA 1094/1095 Employer Reporting Year 3

Webinar Date: Thursday, October 26, 2017

Benefit Plan Transition Issues

Webinar Date: Thursday, September 28, 2017

Employers face a myriad of rules when trying to make significant changes to employee benefits plans. In this session, we will discuss compliance issues as they relate to some common scenarios, including taking over benefits when purchasing another company, making mid-year plan changes, introducing an HSA/HDHP option for the first time, and more.

Health Insurance Legislative Update

Webinar Date: Thursday, August 24, 2017

Corbra is Here to Stay

Webinar Date: Thursday, July 27, 2017

COBRA has been around for over 30 years and employers still struggle to properly comply with the rules. This session will cover basic COBRA compliance and discuss areas where employers often struggle. This session will be valuable even for employers who use the services of a COBRA administrator.

Section 125 Cafeteria Plan Rules Review

Webinar Date: Thursday, June 22, 2017

Employers have offered Section 125 Cafeteria Plans for years, yet many still struggle with some of the rules and administrative requirements. This webinar will focus on Section 125 compliance issues important to employers including document requirements, election change rules, discrimination testing and more.

No "Repeal or Replace" ...Maybe "Repeal or Replace" ...Maybe Something Else? What Should the Employer Focus on Now?

Webinar Date: Thursday, May 25, 2017

Even though the Republicans have managed to push a bill in the House, it is still unclear whether Congress will be able to pass legislation making significant changes to the ACA. In these uncertain times, employers must continue to administer their benefit plans in compliance with existing ACA rules. However, even in the absence of significant legislative action, regulatory agencies are still likely to make changes to rules that impact employers. This webinar will focus on important ACA compliance requirements still in force, but will also review what is still being proposed in Congress and explain what changes regulators are able to make without congressional action.

Employee Benefits During an FMLA Leave

Webinar Date: Thursday, April 27, 2017

Employers face significant risk if benefits are not properly handled for employees taking an FMLA leave. This session will discuss in detail the employer’s obligations, employee communication requirements and other rules specific to employee benefits during and after FMLA leave. This session is designed for employers with at least 50 employees who are subject to FMLA. Topics will include:
• Benefit reinstatement rules
• What to do if an employee does not return from FMLA
• When to offer COBRA

Keeping Up With Changes to Employee Benefits Rules (Part 2)

Webinar Date: Thursday, March 23, 2017

By the end of March 2017, many changes to employee benefits rules will have begun to take shape. Beyond changes to the ACA, we expect to see modifications to HSA rules, adjustment to the tax treatment of employee benefits, and much more. Tune in to this webinar to keep up with changes that are important to employers as they plan their employee benefits strategy for the future.

Keeping Up With Changes to Employee Benefits Rules (Part 1)

Webinar Date: Thursday, February 23, 2017

The results of the 2016 elections guarantee that many changes will be made to employee benefits rules and regulations in 2017. Even if Congress needs some time to make changes to the law itself, executive and regulatory actions could move very quickly. Also, as soon as the new Congress takes office, new bills are likely to be introduced that will shed some light on the changes we can expect. This webinar focuses on changes and breaking news that will affect employer sponsored employee benefits.

Employee Benefits and Medicare Coordination Issues

Webinar Date: Thursday, January 19, 2017

As the workforce ages, the challenge of coordinating employer sponsored
benefits with Medicare increases. Medicare Secondary Payer
(MSP) rules prohibit employers from taking certain actions related to
employees eligible for Medicare; Medicare entitlement makes employees
ineligible for HSA contributions; and Medicare affects employees’
and dependents’ COBRA rights, to name just a few issues. This
webinar will concentrate on how Medicare affects employer sponsored
benefits, not on general Medicare coverage and eligibility issues.

Into the Weeds! Answers to Specific Employer Benefits Questions We Have Received

Webinar Date: Thursday, December 15, 2016

In this webinar we will review actual employee benefits compliance questions we have received and go over our answers in detail. From “ACA reporting” to the “zero balance FSA/HSA rule”, learn from real life compliance issues other employers have faced. Don’t worry, the names have been changed to protect the innocent (and the guilty too).

How Will the Election Impact Employee Benefits Regulations & a Look Forward to 2017

Webinar Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016

With the election over we will discuss how the results could affect employee benefits rules and regulations. We will also look forward to 2017 and discuss regulatory developments and new rules likely to impact employers going forward. For example, Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) need to prepare for upcoming IRS communications expected in 2017 regarding possible §4980H penalties.

ACA 1094/1095 Employer Reporting Year 2

Webinar Date: Thursday, October 27, 2016

Here we go again. It seems like employers just finished reporting last year’s data to the IRS on Forms 1094 and 1095, and it is already time to get ready for this year’s reporting due early in 2017. The IRS has released draft forms and instructions and there are some changes (such as a new 1095 code for certain kinds of coverage offers to spouses). In this webinar we will review the rules, discuss the changes, and help employers better prepare for reporting this year.

ACA and Benefits Compliance Update
Webinar Date: Thursday, September 22, 2016

While there will not likely be any congressional action in an election year making changes to benefits related rules, it is anticipated that the regulatory agencies will continue to issues new rules, and clarify existing informal guidance. This session will focus on regulations, FAQs, and other guidance issued over the previous months to help employers keep up-to-date on these ever changing requirements.

Wellness Plan Regulations Update

Webinar Date: Thursday, August 18, 2016

The EEOC has issued its final wellness regulations regarding compliance with the ADA and GINA. The rules contain a new notice requirement and some changes from the previously issued proposed rules, including adjustments to incentive limit calculations and the application of such limits. Many of the EEOC rules go into effect for plan years beginning Jan. 1, 2017. Now is the time to look at your wellness plans to make sure they are in compliance with both the EEOC regulations and the existing HIPAA wellness rules.

HRA/HSA Compliance and Administration Issues

Webinar Date: Thursday, July 28, 2016

Properly administering HRA and HSA benefits has always been difficult for employers, but the ACA has added a whole new layer of compliance challenges. This session will cover compliance rules applicable to these types of benefits. We will also review common questions we receive from employers on topics such as HSA eligibility after age 65, and HRA integration rules.

OCR Begins New Phase of HIPAA Audits

Webinar Date: Thursday, June 23, 2016

As a part of its continued efforts to assess compliance with the HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules, the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has begun its second phase of audits of covered entities and their business associates. OCR has stated that they will be auditing all types of covered entities, including employer sponsored health plans. All employers who sponsor a health plan have some responsibility under the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. Now is a great time to make sure your organization has the proper policies and procedures in place.

Plan Affordability Under the ACA

Webinar Date: Thursday, May 26, 2016

There is a tremendous amount of confusion around what it means for an employer’s plan to be “affordable” under the ACA. It’s not surprising because there are two different kinds of affordable criteria. First there is the definition of when an employer’s plan is affordable for purposes of an individual who is purchasing individual health insurance and trying to qualify for a subsidy. Separately, there are the three employer affordability safe harbors provided by the IRS to help employers set contribution rates in a manner that mitigates their §4980H(b) penalty risk. This webinar will help employers understand the differences and provide strategies for setting employer contributions going forward.

Making Sense of the Employee Classification Puzzle

Webinar Date: Thursday, April 28, 2016

The gig economy continues to challenge how we define and compensate our employees—regular full-time, temp, common law, part-time, seasonal, independent contractor, leased, and more! And the labels are taking on even greater importance with laws like the Affordable Care Act (requiring offers of coverage to full-time employees) and state and local leave laws (requiring various types of leave for employees). This webinar will start by sorting out some of the conflicting employee definitions and will provide advice on how to keep them straight and protect yourself.

ACA Benefits Compliance Update

Webinar Date: Thursday, March 24, 2016

2015 ended with a flurry of guidance, changes and delays from the regulatory agencies. It is expected that early 2016 will bring more of the same. This webinar will cover the latest compliance developments including new IRS guidance on affordability and hours of service, guidance on opt-out incentives, new COBRA rules for health FSAs and more.

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EEOC Wellness Regulations

Webinar Date: Thursday, February 25, 2016

In 2015, the EEOC filed a number of lawsuits challenging common employer wellness plan strategies. After significant backlash from the business community and Congress, the EEOC issues its first set of regulations regarding employer wellness plans. While the proposed rules mostly align with existing HIPAA welless regulations, there are differences. Attend this webinar for a review of existing wellness rules and an update on the EEOC regulations along with their impact on employer wellness plans.

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ACA 1094/1095 Reporting Details

Webinar Date: Thursday, January 28, 2016

The IRS has extended the deadline for employers to complete their ACA 1094/1095 reporting, so we will take this last opportunity before the deadline to dive into the more difficult details of the reporting requirements. The webinar will cover reporting specifics including how to code to 1095s for various scenarios such as COBRA coverage, dealing with aggregated employer groups and union plans, filling out line 22 of the 1094 and more.

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2015 Regulatory Wrap-Up and a Look Forward to 2016

Webinar Date: Thursday, December 17, 2015

2015 was another challenging year for employee benefits managers and human resource professionals. The ACA employer shared responsibility rules began to take effect and employers began to prepare for the difficult ACA reporting requirements that begin early in 2016. This webinar will look forward into 2016 and discuss the practical implications of rules scheduled to go into effect over the next 12 months. The webinar will also review additional compliance issues with which employers may have to deal in 2016.

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ACA Issues When Using a Staffing Firm

Webinar Date: Thursday, November 19, 2015

Employers often think that using a temp agency or staffing firm means they don’t have to worry about ACA compliance issues for the individuals working under these arrangements. Unfortunately it is not that simple. From determining who is the common law employer, to figuring out what time must be taken into account with determining full-time status, the rules are often complex. This session will briefly address issues faced by the staffing firms, but most of the session will focus on topics specific to employers who use staffing firms to take care of some of their employment needs.

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Public Marketplace (Exchange) Third Open Enrollment Period

Webinar Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2015

The third open enrollment period for the public Marketplaces/Exchanges takes place from November 1, 2015 – January 31, 2016. The news surrounding the open enrollment period is likely to generate many employee questions. Employees are often confused about how the benefits employers offer effects their eligibility for subsidies when buying individual health insurance. It also presents opportunities for employers, such as providing a chance for current COBRA QBs on an employer plan to move to subsidized individual insurance plans on through the Marketplace. This webinar will focus on the impact that the public marketplace open enrollment has on employers.

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Employer 1095 and 1094 Reporting

Webinar Date: Thursday, September 24, 2015

Recorded Link
Presentation

The new 1095 and 1094 employer reporting begins in just a few short months. All Applicable Large Employers (ALE), both fully insured and self-funded, and any small employer with a self-funded health plan are subject to the plan reporting requirements. 2015 forms and instructions will have been released by the IRS prior to this webinar. This webinar will explain what information needs to be reported as well as provide guidance on the process. Note: Small employers who do not meet the definition of an ALE and offer only fully insured plans are not subject to these reporting requirements.

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How Does the Supreme Court's Same-Sex Marriage Decision Affect Employee Benefits?

Webinar Date: Thursday, August 27, 2015

The Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage has caused many employers to look carefully at their current benefit strategies related to employees who are in same-sex marriages or domestic partnerships. This session will explain what impact the decision has on how employers offer benefits to employees.

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New EEOC Rules for Wellness Plans

Webinar Date: Thursday, July 30, 2015

The EEOC has issued long-awaited proposed regulations addressing ADA requirements for employer wellness programs. The guidance also addresses the interaction between the new EEOC rules and the existing ACA and HIPAA wellness rules. This webinar will help employers understand how the new rules impact their employee wellness programs.

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ACA Update and Discussion of Supreme Court Decision

Webinar Date: Thursday, June 25, 2015

Regulatory agencies will continue to release ACA-related regulations and guidance throughout 2015. This webinar will address the most recently released ACA guidance. The Supreme Court is also expected to release its highly-anticipated decision in the case King vs. Burwell sometime in June. If the court has released its decision, the webinar will be focused on the impact that the court’s decision may have on employer sponsored plans.

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IRS §414 Controlled Group and Affiliated Service Group Rules

Webinar Date: Thursday, May 28, 2015
Recorded Link
Presentation
Q&A Summary

Internal Revenue Code §414 controlled group and affiliated service group rules require some separate companies to be treated as a single employer for purposes of several different benefits related issues including: 401k administration, discrimination testing, and ACA Applicable Large Employer (ALE) status for health benefits. Employers with certain levels of common ownership and/or operational integration must determine their single employer status under these rules, even if they have separate tax EINs. For the first time, beginning in 2016, employers will need to apply these rules in IRS reporting if they are part of an “aggregated group” of employers when they complete their Form 1094. This webinar will help employers understand the basics of the §414 rules and in some cases determine if they are part of an aggregated group. At a minimum, employers will understand if they need additional employer-specific analysis to make the determination.

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HIPAA Privacy and Security for Employers in the Age of Common Data Breaches

Webinar Date: Thursday, April 30, 2015

Recent large scale data breaches at a number of health insurance companies have brought employer responsibilities under the HIPAA privacy and security rules back into the limelight. An employer’s HIPAA obligations in these cases depends on a number of factors, including whether the employer’s plan is fully-insured or self-funded, and the specific language of any business associate agreement in place with the vendor. This webinar will provide a refresher on employer HIPAA privacy and security rules, as well as discuss appropriate employer responses to vendor security breaches.

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Employer ACA Reporting Requirements

Webinar Date: Thursday, March 26, 2015
Recorded Link
Presentation
Q&A Summary

Beginning in 2016, all applicable large employers (ALEs) and any self-funded employer (even if not an ALE) face a significant new obligation to report certain plan and employee information to the IRS, as well as provide a new health care statement to employees. Both fully-insured and self-funded employers are subject to the plan reporting requirements, with self-funded plans having additional employee coverage reporting obligations. Final forms and instructions will be released by the IRS prior to this webinar. This webinar will explain what information needs to be reported as well as provide guidance on the process.

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Wellness Regulations & the EEOC Lawsuits

Webinar Date: Thursday, February 26, 2015
Recorded Link
Presentation
Q&A Summary

The EEOC has filed a number of lawsuits challenging some common employer wellness plan strategies. Attend this webinar for a review of existing wellness rules and an update on the EEOC lawsuits and their impact on employer wellness plans.

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ACA Regulatory Update

Webinar Date: Thursday, January 29, 2015
Recorded Link
Presentation

It is expected that the regulatory agencies will continue to release a large volume of ACA-related regulations and guidance throughout 2015. Benefit Comply will hold at least two webinars during 2015 specifically designed to address the most recently released guidance. This webinar will address breaking issues relevant to both large and small employers.

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2014 Regulatory Wrap-Up & Looking Forward to 2015

Webinar Date: Thursday, December 18, 2014

2014 was an interesting year for employee benefits managers and human resource professionals, but delays in the ACA employer shared responsibility rules pushed actual implementation of many provisions into 2015. Now the action really starts. This webinar will look forward into 2015 and discuss the practical implications of rules scheduled to go into effect over the next 12 months. Particular attention will be given to rules that require employers to change current administrative practices. The webinar will also review additional compliance issues employers may have to deal with in 2015 such as possible Section 125 discrimination testing changes, HIPAA transaction certification for self-funded plans, and more.

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Employee Benefits Compliance Case Studies

Webinar Date: Thursday, November 20, 2014
Recorded Link
Presentation

Our compliance consultants answer hundreds of employee benefits compliance-related questions from employers every month. This seminar will review a series of actual employer questions (with names changed to protect the innocent) received during 2014. Our presenters will answer the questions and discuss compliance strategies related to the particular topics. The questions range from the ACA to waiting periods, and everything in between (we couldn’t come up with a compliance issues that started with “Z”).

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Employer ACA Reporting Requirements

Webinar Date: Thursday, October 23, 2014
Recorded Link
Presentation
Q&A Summary

All “Applicable Large Employers,” or ALEs (generally those with more than 50 full-time equivalents/FTEs), and any self-funded employer (even if not an ALE) will be required to report certain plan and employee information to the IRS beginning in 2016 for 2015 data. The IRS has released final regulations, sample forms and instructions. Both fully insured and self-funded employers are subject to the plan reporting requirements, with self-funded plans having additional employee coverage reporting obligations. This webinar will explain which employers are subject to the requirements and what information needs to be reported.

Note: Small employers who do not meet the definition of an ALE and offer only fully insured plans are not subject to these reporting requirements.

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Public Marketplace (Exchange) Second Open Enrollment Period

Webinar Date: Thursday, September 18, 2014
Recorded Link
Presentation
Q&A Summary

The second open enrollment period for the public (state and federal) marketplaces takes place from Nov. 15, 2014 to Feb. 15, 2015. The news surrounding this second open enrollment period is likely to generate many employee questions. It also presents opportunities for employers, such as providing a chance for current COBRA QBs on an employer plan to move to subsidized individual insurance plans through the marketplace. This webinar will focus on the impact that the public marketplace has on employers.

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ACA Regulatory Update

Webinar Date: Thursday, August 28, 2014
Recorded Link
Presentation
Q&A Summary

It is expected that the regulatory agencies will continue to release a large volume of ACA related regulations and guidance throughout 2014. We will address the most recently released guidance. This webinar will address issues relevant to both large and small employers.

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Self-Funded Employer Plans and the Health Plan Identifier (HPID) Number

Webinar Date: Thursday, July 31, 2014
Recorded Link
Presentation
Q&A Summary

All employers who sponsor self-funded health plans are required to obtain a health plan identifier (HPID) number from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). Large health plans must acquire the number by Nov. 5, 2014. Small health plans must acquire their HPID by Nov. 5, 2015. The HPID number may be used in the future as part of HIPAA standard transactions handled by the plan. By Dec. 31, 2015, all self-funded plans will need to certify to CMS that the plan handles HIPAA standard transactions in compliance with the HIPAA rules. This webinar will explain the process of obtaining a HPID number, and describe how employers will certify compliance to HHS in 2015.

Note: Employers with only fully insured health plans do not need to acquire a HPID, so this webinar will not be of interest to these employers.

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DOL Employee Benefit Plan Audits & How to Prepare

Webinar Date: Thursday, June 26, 2014