• Benefits Bulletin – New COVID-19 Relief Bill — Highlights for Employers

    • December 29, 2020
    • Posted by: Renee Crissie
    • Category: .All, Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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    On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the much-anticipated COVID-19 relief bill (the “Bill”), which was approved by Congress a week earlier. The Bill, a follow-up to the March 2020 CARES Act, provides a second round of stimulus dollars and economic relief measures; it also contains several provisions of particular importance to employers.

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  • What We Know So Far: Understanding the $900B Stimulus Package

    • December 29, 2020
    • Posted by: Renee Crissie
    • Category: .All, Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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    On Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, Congress passed an emergency stimulus package designed to deliver approximately $900 billion in COVID-19-related aid. The bill, which was part of a $1.4 trillion spending package that will keep the government open for the fiscal year, has been sent to President Donald Trump. As a fluid situation, we will update

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  • Benefits Bulletin – Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccines — Agencies Issue Interim Final Regulations

    • December 29, 2020
    • Posted by: Renee Crissie
    • Category: .All, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Employee Benefits, Human Resources
    No Comments

    As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) signed into law in March 2020, most group health plans are required to provide no-cost coverage for COVID-19 preventive services, including vaccinations. On November 6, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services (the

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  • Benefits Weekly Digest – October 13, 2020

    • October 13, 2020
    • Posted by: Renee Crissie
    • Category: .All, Compliance, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Employee Benefits, Human Resources
    No Comments

    HHS Renews COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Determination Affecting Group Health Plans / No Extension of Time to Provide Medicare Part D Notices / Text of Executive Order: An America-First Healthcare Plan / What is a Typical Open Enrollment Period? / Supreme Court to Hear ERISA Preemption Dispute / 2020 ERISA Welfare Plan Checklist for Participant Disclosures

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  • In The Know: SBA Unveils PPP Forgiveness Application

    • October 13, 2020
    • Posted by: Renee Crissie
    • Category: .All, Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    No Comments

    The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) recently released a simpler Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application Form 3508S and instructions. This updated, simple two-page application is for borrowers of $50,000 or less, and is not for use by borrowers who received PPP loans totaling $2 million or more

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  • Benefits Weekly Digest – September 29, 2020

    • October 12, 2020
    • Posted by: Renee Crissie
    • Category: .All, Compliance, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Employee Benefits, Human Resources
    No Comments

    Administration Finalizes Drug Importation Plans, But Legal and Practical Questions Remain / October 14 Is the Last Day to Provide Medicare Part D Notice of Creditable (or Non-Creditable) Coverage / Tracking Telehealth Changes State-by-State in Response to COVID-19 / Employer May Be Held Liable for Service Provider’s Error / Health Insurer Pays $6.85 Million to

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  • HR Bulletin – Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Regulation Revisions

    • September 29, 2020
    • Posted by: Renee Crissie
    • Category: .All, Compliance, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Employee Benefits, Human Resources
    No Comments

    The U.S. Department of Labor has revised its regulations implementing the paid employee leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The revisions were undertaken in response to a federal court decision vacating parts of the regulations. This HR Bulletin summarizes the revisions, which took effect on September 16, 2020.

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  • HR Weekly Digest – September 21, 2020

    • September 24, 2020
    • Posted by: Renee Crissie
    • Category: .All, Compliance, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Employee Benefits, Human Resources
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    DOL Announces Revisions to FFCRA That Will Seriously Impact Healthcare Providers / U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Updates Guidance for Employers on COVID-19 and EEO Laws / Federal Judge Strikes Down Department of Labor Joint Employer Rule / Ministerial Exemption Does Not Bar Hostile Work Environment Claim For Gay Church Employee / OSHA Updates Rule on

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  • Benefits Weekly Digest – September 15, 2020

    • September 15, 2020
    • Posted by: Renee Crissie
    • Category: .All, Compliance, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Employee Benefits, Human Resources
    No Comments

    Health Care Costs for 2020 Likely to Be Lower Than Expected  /  Impact of the COBRA Extension Interim Final Rule  /  Compendium of State Regulatory Materials for Health Insurance Operations and Coverage Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic  /  HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associates Need an IT Asset Inventory List, OCR Recommends  /   COVID-19 Could

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  • HR Weekly Digest – September 8, 2020

    • September 9, 2020
    • Posted by: Renee Crissie
    • Category: .All, Compliance, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Employee Benefits, Human Resources
    No Comments

    Questions Remain After IRS Issues Initial Guidance on Temporary Deferral of Employee Payroll Tax Obligations  /  COVID-19: Proposed Safe to Work Act Would Provide Businesses Broad COVID-19 Liability Protections / Reasonable, Not Required: DOL Says IRS Mileage Rate Is Not Only Expense Reimbursement Method  /  A “Reason to Believe”: DOL Says the Obligation to Determine Remote Employees’ Hours

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