September 24, 2019
Expansion of the Remote Workforce
According to one Cision study, more than 50% of the working works from home at least half of the week. Remote work is exploding in popularity, expanding by 91% over the last ten years and 159% over the last 12 years. Thanks to ever-evolving digital and cloud-based technology, employees can ...
September 24, 2019
Fighting Unconscious Bias In the Workplace
We are all familiar with overt biases in the workplace. From off-color jokes to discriminatory hiring practices, the experience of conscious bias is an unfortunate reality for many women and men at all levels of corporate hierarchy. But what about unconscious bias? These are the covert thoughts ...
September 24, 2019
Addressing Marijuana Usage and Testing
Recreational cannabis legalization is rolling out across the United States, and many employers are faced with a big, hazy question: how should they address drug testing in the workplace? Eleven states have legalized recreational marijuana and 33 others have legalized medical marijuana. It’s ...
September 23, 2019
Incentivizing Corporate Wellness
Nearly every large employer offers some type of wellness program, but if your team feels you’ve “been there, done that,” maybe it’s time to revisit your definition of wellness. With the expansion of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga in the west, modern wellness applications are so much more ...
September 20, 2019
Advocacy in Action | Requiring Proof for Denied Claims
A member contacted her Patient Advocate for help with 4 bills being denied by the insurance carrier as not covered under the plan. The Patient Advocate reviewed the bills and plan details and then contacted the insurance carrier to find out why they were denying coverage. The carrier told the ...
September 17, 2019
Costs by Organization Size | 2019 UBA Health Plan Survey Trends
Generally, larger groups (those with 200 to 1,000+ employees) pay more than average per employee due to more generous benefit levels. After experiencing a stunning 9.6% increase last year, employers with 1,000+ employees were able to more characteristically negotiate better rates this year, ...
September 13, 2019
Final FAQs, Model Disclosure Form, and Enforcement Fact Sheet Regarding Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity
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 ...
September 10, 2019
Costs by Industry | 2019 UBA Health Plan Survey Trends
The government/education/utilities sector has the priciest plans, at $12,125 per employee, up just 1.5% from last year. Total costs per employee for the construction/transportation, retail, hospitality, and health care sectors are all lower than average, making employees in these industries ...
September 5, 2019
Compliance Recap | August 2019
August was a relatively quiet month in the employee benefits world. The Department of Labor (DOL) issued its updated Medicaid / CHIP Model Notice. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revised its Medicare Secondary Payer User Guide and changed reporting requirements regarding ...
September 3, 2019
Costs by Region | 2019 UBA Health Plan Survey Trends
Overall average costs per employee rose 1.3% from $10,313 in 2018 to $10,447 in 2019 (compared to 3.8%, from $9,934 in 2017 to $10,313 in 2018). Regional cost averages vary from the national picture, making it essential to benchmark both nationally and regionally. For example, a significant ...
