The DOL released updated COBRA model notices and FAQs providing general information on the updated model notices. The FAQs note that the DOL provides a model general COBRA notice and model COBRA election notice that plans may use to satisfy the requirements to timely provide both of these notices to qualified beneficiaries.
The Department of Labor (DOL) released advance copies of Form 5500 Annual Return / Report (Form 5500) and related instructions for 2019.
Topics: compliance, Form 5500, DOL
For many employers, overtime is a tricky issue. Should you offer it to all employees? Only hourly employees? How much time should they work before they are eligible? Effective January 1, 2020, this will be decided for any employers struggling to classify overtime status. Last September, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule to make 1.3 million American workers eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This final rule will reclassify employees across dozens of industries, though it will have the most impact on those falling below the newly designated salary threshold.
Topics: DOL, FLSA, overtime, HR Elements
The U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury (collectively, the “Departments”) released final FAQs About Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Implementation and the 21st Century Cures Act Part 39. The Departments respond to FAQs as part of implementing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act). The FAQs contain a model disclosure form that employees can use to request information from their group health plan or individual market plan regarding treatment limitations that may affect access to mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits.
Topics: ACA, HHS, DOL, mental health, compliance recap, MHPAEA
The Department of Labor (DOL) issued an updated Premium Assistance Under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Model Notice. Employers should distribute the updated model notice before the start of the plan year if they have any employees in a state listed in the notice.
Topics: DOL, CHIP, compliance recap
On August 26, 2019, the Treasury, Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (collectively, the Departments) issued FAQs About Affordable Care Act Implementation Part 40 (FAQs) regarding enforcement of the final rule.
Topics: HHS, DOL, compliance recap
As background, on June 19, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Final Rule that broadened the definition of “employer” and the provisions under which an employer group or association may be treated as an “employer” sponsor of a single multiple-employer employee welfare benefit plan and group health plan under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
Topics: DOL, association health plans
On June 19, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published Frequently Asked Questions About Association Health Plans (AHPs) and issued a final rule that broadens the definition of “employer” and the provisions under which an employer group or association may be treated as an “employer” sponsor of a single multiple-employer employee welfare benefit plan and group health plan under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
Topics: DOL, Department of Labor, association health plans
As the likelihood of an audit from the U.S. Department of Labor increases, every organization should be prepared so that this potential disaster can be handled with confidence. Conducting a mock audit can be key part of your prevention and preparation strategy.
Topics: DOL, Department of Labor, white papers, Josie Martinez, Michael Cramer, Audit, Don't Roll the Dice on Department of Labor Audits, Deanna Johnson, Beneflex Insurance Services, EBS Capstone, mock audit
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that’s definitely the case when it comes to a health plan audit by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). And prevention is certainly warranted, according to Jeff Hadden, Partner at LHD Benefit Advisors (a UBA Partner Firm), because it’s not a matter of “if” you’re getting audited, but “when” you get a letter from the DOL that your company is being audited.
Topics: DOL, Department of Labor, white papers, Jeff Hadden, Michael Cramer, Audit