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As a reminder, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fees are due by July 31, 2026. These fees help fund the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute – a non-profit organization created under the Affordable Care Act to conduct research to help patients and caregivers make better decisions for their specific needs and health care outcomes. It also performs research … Continued

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an estimated 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness each year. 83% of U.S. workers are estimated to suffer from work-related stress and 54% of workers report that work stress affects their home life. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that managers and … Continued

Summer is right around the corner, and this warmer weather brings family cookouts.  It’s important to note that each year, approximately 9,500 people are burned from grill fires or hot grills. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): The grill had not been cleaned in 20% of the grill fires. More than one-quarter of … Continued

As the summer months approach, it’s a good time for employers to consider sun exposure on the job.  The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires employers to minimize risk of harm to workers. Employers may even be required to provide workers’ compensation to employees who get skin cancer because of sun exposure on the job. … Continued

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 38 states have adopted more than 100 Artificial Intelligence (AI) laws. Many of these laws focus on child exploitation, deepfakes, privacy, and how the technology should be used.  Several states who have not yet adopted laws are looking into doing so. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) … Continued

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides a special enrollment period which allows employees who have previously waived health coverage to enroll for coverage outside of the plan’s open enrollment period. This is called special enrollment. Employees and dependents who waive coverage due to other group health coverage and then lose that coverage can enroll in … Continued

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that an employee may not be employed for more than 40 hours in a workweek without receiving at least one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for any hours worked above 40 hours in a workweek.  The term “employed” is defined as time an employee is … Continued

If you are an employer defined as an Applicable Large Employer (ALE), you should begin to plan for submitting the required 1094/1095-C forms to the IRS. ALEs are companies who average 50 or more full-time or full-time equivalent employees (FT/FTE).  This is determined each calendar year and is based on the average size of an … Continued

Over the past 10 years, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has reported a significant increase in retaliation claims from the private sector, making it the most common type of discrimination claim filed. Job applicants and employees who assert their rights to be free from employment discrimination and harassment are engaging in a “protected activity”. … Continued

Employers with group health plans offering prescription drug coverage must provide Medicare Creditable Coverage and/or Non-Creditable coverage notices each year in September and no later than October 15th (or at least once in every 12-month period, especially if there is a change in plans or carriers).  These notices must be provided to all Medicare-eligible employees and dependents on the … Continued