18 Mar

Posted at 22:18h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .
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HR Compliance Bulletin header image The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law March 11, 2021, provides a 100% subsidy of premiums for employer-sponsored group health insurance continued under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA) and similar state continuation of coverage (mini-COBRA) programs.

ARPA subsidies cover the full cost of COBRA or mini-COBRA premiums from April 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2021, for employees (and their qualifying family members), if the employee lost or loses group health insurance due to an involuntary job loss or reduction in work hours.

12 Mar

Posted at 17:51h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

News Brief header President Joe Biden recently announced that he is directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to purchase an additional 100 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The White House had announced earlier in March that drugmaker Merck & Co. will help produce competitor Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine to expand its production and supply. The administration invoked the Defense Production Act to get two Merck facilities up to the standards necessary to safely manufacture the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. However, it will take months to fully equip these plants.

05 Mar

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

On April 28, 2020, the Departments of Labor (DOL) and the Treasury (Departments) issued deadline relief to help employee benefit plans, plan participants and plan service providers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Thereafter, on Feb. 26, 2021, DOL Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01 clarified the duration of this relief. The deadlines were initially extended by disregarding an Outbreak Period from March 1, 2020, until 60 days after the announced end of the National Emergency (or such other date announced by the Departments). Under federal law, this period could not exceed one year, meaning that the relief was expected to expire on Feb. 28, 2021.

05 Mar

Posted at 18:13h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

Legal Update Header On Feb. 26, 2021, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury issued FAQ guidance to clarify health coverage requirements related to COVID-19.

Coverage of COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing

Health plans and issuers must cover COVID-19 diagnostic items and services without cost-sharing. The FAQs explain that plans and issuers:

05 Mar

Posted at 18:08h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

After you’ve received your COVID-19 vaccination, it’s normal to wonder what’s next.

Many questions exist, such as whether you can contract COVID-19 again, what safety precautions you should continue and when life might go back to normal. While a COVID-19 vaccination is a critical step toward returning to a sense of normalcy, it’s important to continue to prioritize the safety of yourself and those around you.

05 Mar

Posted at 17:54h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

News Brief header The White House recently announced that drugmaker Merck & Co., will help produce competitor Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine to expand its production and supply.

President Joe Biden’s administration will play a key role in this partnership. The administration has invoked the Defense Production Act to get two Merck facilities up to the standards necessary to safely manufacture the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. While it will take months to fully equip these plants, Merck has extensive experience and capacity as a vaccine producer and is prepared to use these two facilities to vastly increase supply.