18 Feb The ClearPath Advisor – February 2020
Posted at 16:00h
in benefits compliance, ClearPath blog, Compliance Alert, Compliance Recap, Default, healthcare, Helpful Tips, news, Resources
Compliance Check
what you need to know
Compliance Recap – 2019 in Review. January was a busy month in the employee benefits world. The U.S. Supreme Court (Supreme Court) denied expedited review of a court case challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Supreme Court also granted review of a nationwide preliminary injunction of the November 2018 contraceptive coverage exemptions final rules. The Department of Labor (DOL) issued its annual adjustment of federal civil monetary penalties. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its annual adjustment of civil monetary penalties.
Medicare Part D Notices Are Due to CMS by February 29. Each year, group health plan sponsors that provide prescription drug coverage to individuals eligible for Medicare Part D must disclose to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) whether that coverage is “creditable” or “non-creditable”.
Status of Court Case Challenging ACA Constitutionality. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Appeals Court) held that the ACA’s individual mandate is unconstitutional this past December, a decision that currently does not impact employers’ group health plans.
President Signs Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. In December of 2019, President Trump signed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act which significantly affects provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
HHS Releases Inflation-Adjusted Federal Civil Penalty Amounts. The Department of Health and Human Services has released recent adjustments to the Annual Civil Monetary Penalties. Continue reading this blog post from UBA for the adjusted federal civil penalty amounts.
CMS Releases SBC Materials for Plan Years Beginning 2021. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released SBC materials and supporting documents including a template SBC, sample completed SBC, uniform glossary, instructions, and guidance for plan or policy years beginning on or after January 1, 2021.
The Power of Purchasing Coalitions: Reducing Your Benefits Spend with Innovation
Featuring Tom Rubino, Partner at ClearPath Benefits Advisors
Coalitions are devised as a creative risk solution to help employers turn their fixed costs, or stop-loss, into potentially variable costs. Further, this model allows employers to reap the benefits of favorable underwriting gains.
In this installation of CenterStage, Thomas Rubino, a Partner at ClearPath Benefits, has given employers further insight into what coalitions are and how they may be an innovative solution for lowering your benefits spend.
Dish Featuring Kathy Wolfram
Looking for a new recipe to try this month?
Kathy Wolfram is a Market Analyst at ClearPath Benefits Advisors.
Outside of work, Kathy’s life is centered around her three kids and husband and the family dog. As a family, they are very active in school sports and volunteer time at the Dublin Irish Festival. She has been a teacher’s aide for the past 7 years for her children’s religious education.
Kathy grew up in eastern Ohio and she and her family are proud supporters of the Pittsburgh Steelers! On any football Sunday you can find a gang of family and friends at her house watching the Steelers. Family first!
Pasta Salad
A standard at any of Kathy’s family gatherings is Pasta Salad.
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
Kathy’s family likes to try new and exciting places each week. Her family’s favorite place so far is BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse at Tuttle Mall.
