
Articles
The Election is Over – Where Do We Go from Here?
Thursday, November 15, 2012
With the re-election of President Obama, and very little change in the make-up of Congress, the path to full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) now seems clear. Many employers may have not aggressively acted to address the impact on their employer plans due to the questions about the future of the law and because some of the most significant provisions of the ACA aren’t effective until 2014.
Superstorm Sandy’s Insurance Considerations (Briefly)
Friday, November 2, 2012
By John Schmidt, Vice President, Real Estate Practice Leader
Every single one of the millions of people in the Northeast who experienced Superstorm Sandy has his or her own personal story of that harrowing day and night. Ask them a year from now and their recollection will probably include some comment regarding insurance – good or bad.
CDI Prevention and Your Insurance
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Clostridium difficile (C. diff or CDI) is hitting the news. As much as we would like the media to take a levelheaded approach to the subject, they’re framing CDI as the next "killer infectious disease.
Workers’ Compensation: Good News for Washington Employers
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
L&I proposed no increase in the Workers’ Compensation tax rates for 2013. This news is surprising as L&I had set the table for significant tax rate increases for 2013 and future years to fix the underfunding of their contingency reserve.
Guidance Issued on the Definition of Full-time Employees and 90-Day Waiting Period Rules
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
On Friday, August 31st the IRS released Notice 2012-58 which includes much-anticipated guidance related to the definition of full-time employees for the purpose of the employer shared responsibility rules and related penalties contained in the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Crowdfunding: Who Will (and Who Won’t) Be Doing It
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Among the features of the recently enacted JOBS Act that has attracted the most attention are the legislation’s provisions for " crowdfunding." Under these provisions, a company is permitted to raise up to $1 million during any 12-month period through an SEC-registered crowdfunding portal.
Seattle Paid Sick Leave Update and FAQ
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
As most Seattle employers know by now, beginning September 1, 2012, the City of Seattle will require that all but the smallest employers provide paid sick leave to their Seattle employees. Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) mandates that most employers provide paid leave, which increases depending on the size of a company’s workforce.
Tips for Managing Employment Practices Liability in Hospitality Industry
Monday, August 20, 2012
One of the fastest growing areas of litigation for businesses of all sizes is employment practices, with a 32% increase in charges since 20051. These allegations include Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Wrongful Termination, Wrongful Discipline, Negligent Evaluation, Failure to Employ or Promote, Hostile Work Environment, Breach of Employment Contract, and Deprivation of Career Opportunity.
Washington Workers’ Comp: Rate Increase Coming to Rebuild the Contingency Reserve
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The State of Washington, which administers the Workers’ Compensation system for the state, has a financial problem because revenues have been too low to fund workers’ comp expenses.
OCR HIPAA Audits
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
On June 10, 2011, KPMG was awarded a $9.2 million contract by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop HIPAA audit protocols and then conduct audits based on those protocols of HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associates. Almost immediately the speculation started on what would be audited and what documents might be requested as part of the HIPAA audit.
How Employers Should Handle MLR Rebates
Friday, July 20, 2012
As August 1st approaches, employers that sponsor an insured group health plan may be receiving a Medical Loss Ratio (“MLR”) rebate from their insurers. Self-funded medical benefit plans are not subject to these requirements.
ACA Ruling: Impact on Employer-Sponsored Health Plans
Monday, July 9, 2012
On Thursday, June 28th the Supreme Court issued its much anticipated decision on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In a split 5-4 decision, the court ruled the so-called “ individual mandate” contained in the ACA constitutional.
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