26 Mar

Posted at 00:32h in Compliance White Papers, COVID-19, Employee Benefits, HR and Operations by . .

As business closures increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are faced with questions about compensation and health benefit coverage for their employees. Government relief measures may provide compensation for businesses and individuals in certain situations. In other cases, existing rules on employee rights will apply.

Paid leave may be required for some employees by federal or state law. Also, some state insurance regulators are requiring insurance carriers to provide policyholders with additional flexibility regarding premiums and coverage, and some carriers are making similar changes independent of state requirements. This Compliance Overview provides a summary of the issues that employers may encounter when terminating or suspending employment due to COVID-19.

23 Mar

Posted at 22:59h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

Know Your Benefits HeaderAs the number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases rises daily, hospitals and medical care providers are overwhelmed with phone calls and in-person visits.

Telemedicine and telehealth services are emerging as viable solutions to help lessen the burden on health care facilities and staff, while still providing individuals with the care they need.

23 Mar

Posted at 22:52h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a bulletin to remind covered entities and their business associates that the HIPAA Privacy Rule’s protections still apply during a public health emergency, such as the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The bulletin also outlines the different ways that patient information may be shared under the Privacy Rule during an outbreak of infectious disease or another emergency situation.

23 Mar

Posted at 22:24h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

Know Your Benefits HeaderWith all the confusion related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), you may be wondering how your essential health benefits (EHBs) will cover you. This article will discuss EHBs and how they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are EHBs? From the HealthCare.gov website, EHBs are “a set of 10 categories of services health insurance plans must cover under the Affordable Care Act. These include doctors’ services, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, prescription drug coverage, pregnancy and childbirth, mental health services and more.” Basically, EHBs are categories of coverage that your health insurance plan must include. The specifics of the plan and what it covers will vary depending on the employer. If you’re unsure what your health plan covers, speak with human resources to learn more.

23 Mar

Posted at 22:21h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

If you have fever, cough, or shortness of breath, call your healthcare provider. They may tell you to manage your care from home. Follow these tips provided by the CDC.

This fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains how patients can manage their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms from home.   Download the complete "10 ways to manage respiratory symptoms at home"

23 Mar

Posted at 21:05h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits, HR and Operations by . .

Legal Update HeaderOn March 18, 2020, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the Act) into law. The Act requires employers to provide paid leave for some employees related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, among other measures. The leave provisions of the Act take effect no later than 15 days after it is signed by the president.

Emergency Paid Sick Leave

The Act requires two weeks of paid sick leave for government workers and employees of companies with fewer than 500 employees. Leave must be made available to workers who are symptomatic or are under an order or advice to quarantine or self-isolate, who have to care for a family member under such an order or advice, or who have a child whose school or child care provider or facility has closed or is unavailable due to the coronavirus.