© 2022 CCH Incorporated and its affiliates and licensors. All rights reserved. Employee Benefits Management Directions EMPLOYEE BENEFITS MANAGEMENT DIRECTIONS, Report No. 758, October 4, 2022 New independent dispute resolution requirements pose substantial challenges for health plans and health care providers, expert says Departments issue technical guidance on independent dispute resolution process Constitutional, Religious Freedom Restoration Act challenges to ACA achieve mixed success Survey finds 4 in 10 workers will scale back on employee benefits during open enrollment due to inflation Does FMLA cover employees for their mental health illness? EMPLOYEE BENEFITS MANAGEMENT Highlights New independent dispute resolution requirements pose… Read more

On Feb. 1, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury released proposed regulations on how religious organizations should apply the contraceptive coverage requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The agencies previously had released guidance exempting religious employers from the requirement. To meet this exemption, religious employers were required to:  Have the inculcation of religious values as its purpose.  Primarily employ persons who share its religious tenets.  Primarily serve persons who share its religious tenets.  Be a nonprofit organization described in Section 6033(a)(1) and 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) or (iii) of the Internal Revenue Code. Many religious… Read more

When the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, many employers took a “wait and see” approach to compliance. Employers received a wake-up call June 28 when the Supreme Court upheld the major elements of PPACA. Time is almost up for employers, as the “Play or Pay” requirements become effective in 2014. Following are steps employers can take now to prepare: Determine if your company is required to “Play or Pay.” As of Jan. 1, 2014, PPACA requires “applicable large employers” to offer “minimal essential coverage” to 95 percent of their full-time employees and their dependents. An… Read more