Author Archive

Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard

By April 16th, 2020   Apps / Websites, Healthcare Services, Human Resources

The link below provides some very insightful data regarding the spread of COVID-19.

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/96dd742462124fa0b38ddedb9b25e429

The chart in the lower left is particularly interesting. Obviously, one would expect an increase in cases as the number of tests increase. However, note the trend of the decrease in the number of new cases.

What does this mean? To me it says we may be getting ready, hopefully, to start the economy back up. It also suggests we should start thinking about how to restart our businesses. – Need help planning the restart? I know people, experts – people that can help. – Let me know what you need, I’ll help you find the right person.

 

Employee Benefit Advisors provides employee benefits, tax-advantaged healthcare, compliance guidance for ACA and Health & Welfare DOL Audits, and PEO Advisory & Consulting Services.

Employers of Choice – Furlough vs. Layoff

By April 2nd, 2020   Human Resources

The COVID-19 relief packages have passed based on three fundamentals; (1) providing economic support to both businesses and individuals (2) keeping people employed, and (3) keeping people insured. Financing payroll may not be possible, after all it’s generally the largest expense. Companies may to need decide between a Layoff and Furlough.

Layoff (noun) – temporary or permanent separation of employment
Furlough (noun) – considered an alternative to a layoff, generally a short-term temporary layoff from employment
COVID-19 has forced many workers to either be laid-off(v) or furloughed(v).

When considering Furlough vs. Layoff, there are three reasons a furlough is viewed more favorable, especially under these circumstances.

      • Flexibility – because business reality is changing day to day and sometimes hour to hour, a furlough allows an employer the ability to reduce work days and/or hours of its employees all the way down to not working at all once it gets to that point.  But for those employers that are not yet at the point of having to make a final decision on cuts across the board, a furlough is a good option.
      • Employee Centric – employees who are laid off are cut off from benefits as per plan rules (which could be from the date of notice), once they are laid off. With a furlough being considered more like a leave of absence then a termination of employment, employers are able to provide benefits at a minimum for 30 days and can even opt to continue to pay for benefits throughout the duration of the furlough. In light of how this pandemic is affecting workers finances and health, doing so certainly signals that the Employer is making decisions with the employee impact in mind and not simply considering the bottom line.
      • Ability to Regain Ground Quickly – Once the crisis ends, and businesses are able to reopen, it’s going to be critical for businesses to be able to quickly staff back up to meet demands and furloughing employees rather than laying employees off and risking them seeking other employment due to the “permanency” that layoffs signal, would allow an employer to quickly bring back experienced, already trained employees to restart operations and servicing customers.

    Special thanks to Ivelices Thomas, HR & Beyond www.hrandbeyond.com, for her input.

     

    Employee Benefit Advisors provides employee benefits, tax-advantaged healthcare, compliance guidance for ACA and Health & Welfare DOL Audits, and PEO Advisory & Consulting Services.

Small & Midsize Employers – two new refundable payroll tax credits

By March 26th, 2020   Compliance - ACA & Other, Human Resources

IR-2020-57, March 20, 2020

The U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor) announced that small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees. This relief to employees and small and midsize businesses is provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Act), signed by President Trump on March 18, 2020.

The Act will help the United States combat and defeat COVID-19 by giving all American businesses with fewer than 500 employees funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members. The legislation will enable employers to keep their workers on their payrolls, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus.

Key Takeaways

Paid Sick Leave for Workers

  • For COVID-19 related reasons, employees receive up to 80 hours of paid sick leave and expanded paid child care leave when employees’ children’s schools are closed or child care providers are unavailable.

Complete Coverage

Employers receive 100% reimbursement for paid leave pursuant to the Act.

  • Health insurance costs are also included in the credit.
  • Employers face no payroll tax liability.
  • Self-employed individuals receive an equivalent credit.

Fast Funds

Reimbursement will be quick and easy to obtain.

  • An immediate dollar-for-dollar tax offset against payroll taxes will be provided
  • Where a refund is owed, the IRS will send the refund as quickly as possible.

Small Business Protection

  • Employers with fewer than 50 employees are eligible for an exemption from the requirements to provide leave to care for a child whose school is closed, or child care is unavailable in cases where the viability of the business is threatened.

Easing Compliance

  • Requirements subject to 30-day non-enforcement period for good faith compliance efforts.

 

Employee Benefit Advisors provides employee benefits, tax-advantaged healthcare, compliance guidance for ACA and Health & Welfare DOL Audits, and PEO Advisory & Consulting Services.

 

COVID-19 and Medicare

By March 24th, 2020   Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Human Resources

Employee Benefit Advisors recommends communicating the following to you employees. Odds are your company has either employees on Medicare, family members on Medicare, or both.

Copays for the Coronavirus test have been waived, but not the cost of the doctor visit needed to get the test or the treatment.

Telehealth – CMS announced that it will expand telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries and cut back on HIPAA enforcement. Email and texts to docs will be possible! Read the CMS details here

Cost of testing – Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers a test to see if you have coronavirus (officially called 2019-novel coronavirus or COVID-19). https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/coronavirus-test

3 Day Hospitalization Waived for Skilled Nursing Facilities – The waiver of the requirement for a 3-day prior hospitalization for coverage of a SNF stay provides temporary emergency coverage of SNF services without a qualifying hospital stay, for those people who are evacuated, transferred, or otherwise dislocated as a result of the effect of disaster or emergency. In addition, for certain beneficiaries who recently exhausted their SNF benefits, it authorizes renewed SNF coverage without first having to start a new benefit period (Blanket waiver for all impacted facilities). Click here to download the full CMS memo.

Employee Benefit Advisors provides employee benefits, tax-advantaged healthcare, compliance guidance for ACA and Health & Welfare DOL Audits, and PEO Advisory & Consulting Services.

Coronavirus – do the 5

By March 20th, 2020   Healthcare, Human Resources, Uncategorized

I’ve been seeing this advice on Google the past few days. I think it’s simple and easy for employees t grasp. Pass it on.

Help Stop Coronavirus

1. Hands – Wash them often
2. Elbow – Cough into it
3. Face – Don’t touch it
4. Feet – Stay more than 3ft apart
5. Feel sick? Stay home

 

 

Employee Benefit Advisors provides employee benefits, tax-advantaged healthcare, compliance guidance for ACA and Health & Welfare DOL Audits, and PEO Advisory & Consulting Services.

Coronavirus – easy to understand info for employees

By March 17th, 2020   Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Human Resources

Symptoms people may experience:
1. runny nose (Not to be confused with allergies)
2. sore throat
3. cough (develop the habit of coughing into your sleeve or handkerchief – never your hand!)
4. fever
5. tightening of chest / difficulty breathing (severe cases)

What can you do?
• Emergency Room – very expensive
• Urgent Care – less expensive than ER but more cost-effective options exist
• Primary Care Physician – generally a low flat copy; at most the contracted rate between the physician and insurance company
Because COVID-19 is highly contagious to prevent contaminating health care service workers, it is not recommended you go directly to the              ER, UC or PCP.
• Telemedicine – no cost! – If you need emergency care or any additional care the doctor will advise you.
(According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Essential Health Benefits (EHB) coverage generally includes coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.)

 

Employee Benefit Advisors provides employee benefits, tax-advantaged healthcare, compliance guidance for ACA and Health & Welfare DOL Audits, and PEO Advisory & Consulting Services.

Should you get a second opinion?

By February 4th, 2020   Healthcare, Healthcare Services

If you find yourself asking questions like:

  • Do I have the right diagnosis?
  • Am I on the best treatment path and medications?
  • Is this surgery or procedure the best option for me?
  • How can I find the best local doctor for my medical needs or my surgery?

2nd.MD will get you help and answers.

Here are some quick stats:

  • 24% of consults lead to an alternate diagnosis
  • 82% of consults result in an improved treatment plan
  • 29% of surgery consultations result in surgery cancellation

2nd.MD provides support for any condition. Your support starts with a Care Team Nurse. Within days, 2nd.MD will collect your pertinent medical records and imaging and connect you via phone or video to a world-class specialist, uncovering all the possibilities and taking control of your health outcome through local and national in-network referrals.

Service is at no cost to if you are enrolled with a participating organization/employer as part of your benefits package. Many people have their service through their insurance carrier and don’t even know it! The benefit of 2nd.MD is also available to individuals. Contact them directly for pricing.

 

Employee Benefit Advisors provides employee benefits, tax-advantaged healthcare, compliance guidance for ACA and Health & Welfare DOL Audits, and PEO Advisory & Consulting Services.

IRS Guidelines – Indexed for 2020

By January 3rd, 2020   Compliance - ACA & Other

FICA
Social Security Tax is 6.2% on income up to $137,700
Medicare Tax unlimited 1.45% to Unlimited

High Deductible Health Plans
Minimum Annual Deductible (Individual/Family) $1,400 / $2,800
Maximum Out-of-Pocket Limit (Individual/Family) $6,900 / $13,800

Health Savings Accounts
Individual / Family $3,550 /  $7,100
Catch-up Contribution $1,000

ACA Plan Limits
Out-of-Pocket Limits Individual / Family $8,150 / $16,300

Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Care Flexible Spending Account Maximums $2,750
Dependent Care Spending Account Maximum $5,000
The dependent care FSA maximum is set by statute and is not subject to inflation-related adjustments.

Mileage & Transportation
Standard Mileage Rates
57.5 cents per mile for business miles driven
17 cents per mile for medical or moving purposes
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

Parking (monthly) $270
Mass Transit Passes (monthly) $270

Compensation
Compensation Limit $285,000
Highly Compensated Employee Salary Amount $130,000
Annual Compensation for Key Employee $185,000
Defined Benefit Plan Limit $230,000
Defined Contribution Plan Limit $57,000

Retirement Plans
401(k) $19,500
401(k) Catch-up $6,500
403(b) $19,500
457(b)(2) and 124(c)(1) $19,500
457(b) Catch-up $6,500

IRA Limit $6,000/$7,000 for age 50+
Simple IRA Limit $13,500/$3,000 Catch-Up

 

Employee Benefit Advisors provides employee benefits, tax-advantaged healthcare, compliance guidance for ACA and Health & Welfare DOL Audits, and PEO Advisory & Consulting Services.

Proposed Transparency in Coverage Rule vs. American Hospital Association

By December 10th, 2019   Compliance - ACA & Other

A proposed rule would require plans and issuers to disclose cost-sharing estimates to participants, as well as post in-network provider-negotiated rates and historical out-of-network allowed amounts on their websites. The rule would apply to group health plans and insurers in the individual and group markets and sponsors of self-insured group health plans. They would not apply to grandfathered plans. The Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) issued the rule.

The American Hospital Association and other hospital groups have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Washington that claims the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule violates the First Amendment by provoking compelled speech and goes beyond the intended meaning of “standard charges” transparency in the Affordable Care Act.

 

Employee Benefit Advisors provides employee benefits, tax-advantaged healthcare, compliance guidance for ACA and Health & Welfare DOL Audits, and PEO Advisory & Consulting Services.

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