Category: Benefits and Compensation

This topic provides guidance on how to handle compensation issues in a way that attracts and retains the best talent and advances the strategic goals of your business. You get news and tips on what’s going on nationally and in the states, and updates on changes in regulations, possible governmental action, and emerging compensation trends.

HHS Working On Developing Better Zika Diagnostics

Good news if you have employees who travel: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHR) is working on improving diagnostic tests for the Zika virus by supporting the collection of blood samples from people in the continental United States and Puerto Rico who have been infected with Zika. These samples will be collected […]

EEOC Issues New Wellness Rules: The GINA Rule

By Senior Legal Editor Joan Farrell, JD The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a final rule on employer-sponsored wellness programs in relation to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). The GINA wellness rule provides guidance for employers that offer incentives to an employee for information from the employee’s spouse about a manifested disease […]

Agencies Release New SBC Template and Glossary

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of the Treasury have announced enhancements to the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) template and uniform glossary. The changes include an additional coverage example and language and terms meant to improve consumers’ understanding of their health coverage.

Health Plan Costs On the Rise, Says New Survey

Health insurance premium renewal rates increased an average of 6.2% for all plans in 2015, up from the previous year’s 5.6% increase, according to new survey data released by United Benefit Advisors (UBA), an independent employee benefits advisory organization. Small businesses with fewer than 25 employees, which account for five million U.S. employers, were hit […]

ERISA’s Impact on Data Breach Lawsuits

By Sandra R. Mihok, member, Eckert Seamans Attorneys at Law Health insurance companies have increasingly become the target of cyberattacks, a trend which has spurred a wave of class action lawsuits brought by individuals whose personal information has been breached.

Hospital Pays Millions for HIPAA Violations after Unauthorized Filming

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently reached a $2.2 million settlement with New York Presbyterian Hospital (NYP) for the egregious disclosure of two patients’ protected health information (PHI) to film crews and staff during the filming of “NY Med,” an ABC television series, without first obtaining authorization from the […]

Is a HIPAA Audit Coming Soon to a Workplace Near You?

By BLR Legal Editor Jennifer Carsen, JD As a part of its continued efforts to assess compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has begun a round of audits of covered entities and their business […]

It’s Never Just About the Money

by Jen Carsen, J.D., BLR Legal Editor As you have undoubtedly heard by now, the Department of Labor has issued its long-awaited final regulations relating to the new overtime rules. By the DOL’s reckoning, these changes will extend overtime pay to 4.2 million Americans who don’t currently receive it.