The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently published a final rule increasing the civil monetary penalties for violations of laws enforced by HHS, including the HIPAA privacy and security rules. HHS is required to adjust these penalties for inflation...
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States, causing about 647,000 deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heart disease is also an extremely expensive disease—costing the United...
Quartz has expanded their Quartz One, Elite and Select networks in Eastern Wisconsin to include Advocate Aurora Health Providers effective January 1, 2020! This includes 14 hospitals and 1,400+ providers in Wisconsin. This expansion does NOT apply to groups using the...
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), announced a new final rule that clarifies how to calculate an employee’s regular wage rate under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The final rule became effective on Jan. 15, 2020. Calculating the regular rate is an essential...
The federal spending bill signed into law at the end of 2019 repealed three taxes and fees under the Affordable Care Act (ACA): • The Cadillac tax • The medical devices excise tax • The health insurance providers fee The Cadillac Tax The Cadillac tax is a 40% excise...
HIGHLIGHTS The IRS announced cost-of-living adjustments to the annual dollar limits for employee benefit plans. Many of these limits will increase for 2020. In 2020, employees may contribute more money to their HSAs, health FSAs and 401(k) accounts. OVERVIEW Many...
In our health- and fitness-focused culture, it can be easy to lose sight of what well-being really encompasses. At its most basic, well-being refers to feeling good and living both safely and healthily. It refers to wellness in all aspects of life, including, but not...
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, approximately 9 percent of U.S. employers allow their employees to bring their dogs to work every day. With this trend on the rise, many employers are wondering if allowing dogs into their workplace is right for...
In addition to boosting your social well-being, volunteering can make you feel physically stronger, increase mental sharpness, aid in reducing stress and even help you live longer. Despite these proven positive effects, only 1 in 4 Americans regularly volunteer,...
Employee 401(k) contributions for 2020 can increase by $500 to $19,500, while the combined employer and employee contribution limit rises by $1,000 to $57,000, the IRS announced Nov. 6. For participants ages 50 and over, the additional “catch-up”...
