COBRA Subsidy Appeal Forms Now Available

Two federal agencies are providing resources to resolve conflicts regarding a former employee’s right to COBRA subsidy.

California Senate Bill Might Double WC Permanent Disability Benefits

A California Senate Bill (SB 773) introduced by Senators Florez and Steinberg could potentially double California workers’ compensation permanent disability benefits.  A large coalition of various groups is writing letters opposing this bill. 

HHS and FTC Respond to ARRA’s Security Breach Requirements

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, commonly known as the “Economic Stimulus Package”) required both the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to address the problem of securing an individual’s private health information from security breaches.  On April 17 HHS responded by issuing guidance on this subject and on April 20 the FTC responded by issuing proposed regulations. 

Act by May 28 to Submit Employer Comments on Mental Health Parity

Employers still have an opportunity to shape the finer details of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), which amended the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (MHPA).

COURT RULES FAIR TREATMENT OVERCOMES CONFLICT OF INTEREST

In one of the first cases involving conflict of interest since the Supreme Court’s ruling last year, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that defendants did not abuse their discretion when they terminated disability benefits. Under the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. v. Glenn, 128 S. Ct. 2343 (2008), courts must consider a conflict only as a factor in determining whether a plan’s determination was reasonable.

IRS Issues Q&As on the COBRA Premium Subsidy

As employers plan how to comply with the new COBRA premium subsidy provisions, an IRS guidance is helping with questions like “who qualifies” or “does this include reduction to part-time” or “does this include voluntary termination.” As so often, the answers are never quite simple and include exceptions.