June 22, 2017
DOL Asks for MHPAEA Related Comments | Brinson Compliance
In June 2017, the Department of Labor (DOL) provided an informational FAQ relating to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act). This is the DOL’s 38th FAQ on implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) ...
June 10, 2017
Compliance Recap | May 2017
May was an active month in the employee benefits world. On May 4, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill titled the “American Health Care Act of 2017” (AHCA) to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ...
June 2, 2017
Texas Relaxes Telemedicine Regulations
Texans use their computers and mobile phones to shop and bank; now they can also call upon the doctor the same way. In the past, it was only legal to consult with a doctor via a computer in the presence of another healthcare provider if the patient and provider had never met in person ...
May 20, 2017
Don’t Put Up with the Bull of Bullying
There’s no place for bullying and that’s especially true in the workplace, yet many employees bully their co-workers. So, how does this happen? It used to be that bullying was confined to the schoolyard, but now it’s spread to cyberbullying and workplace bullying. Now, if there’s a culture of ...
May 20, 2017
Dear Brain, Please Let Me Sleep
There are alarms to help people wake up, but there isn’t anything similar to help people fall asleep. It seems that no matter how much you zone out just before going to bed, the minute your head hits the pillow your brain kicks into overdrive. Thoughts of every decision made that day, things ...
May 20, 2017
Yes, Boss/HR/Your Honor, That’s My Email
Ever hear of the acronym “CLEM”? That stands for career-limiting email and is a reminder to reconsider sending anything out in writing when a phone call may be the better option. If you have to think twice about hitting that send button, then you shouldn’t hit it. In an article titled, “For ...
May 20, 2017
The Killjoy of Office Culture
One of the latest things trending right now in business is the importance of office culture. When everyone in the office is working well together, productivity rises and efficiency increases. Naturally, the opposite is true when employees do not work well together and the corporate culture ...
May 20, 2017
Frequently Asked Questions about Employees’ Reduction in Hours | Brinson Compliance
The Section 125 cafeteria plan regulations and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) require employers to take certain actions when an employee reduces hours. Below are answers to some common questions. Coverage During a Stability Period Q1: An employer has an employee who is ...
May 6, 2017
House Passes AHCA Bill in First Step to Repeal and Replace the ACA | Brinson Compliance
On May 4, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 1628, a reconciliation bill aimed at “repealing and replacing” the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The bill titled the “American Health Care Act of 2017” or “AHCA,” ...
May 5, 2017
Compliance Recap | April 2017
In April, government agencies ramped up their activities by issuing a final rule, updating guidance, and announcing increased Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) enforcement. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updated its webpage that summarizes employer shared ...
