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Over the last couple of years, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) conducted "desk audits" of 166 covered entities and 41 business associates. These audits focused on select HIPAA privacy, security and breach notification requirements. HHS has not…

The IRS released draft 2018 forms for Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Sections 6055 and 6056. Draft instructions for 2018 have not yet been released.The 2018 draft forms are substantially similar to the final 2017 versions. However…

In a private letter ruling (PLR), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) approved an employer's proposed program to add a student loan benefit to its 401(k) plan. The employer will make matching contributions to its 401(k) plan for employees who make student loan…

With the impending landfall of Hurricane Florence (and the great potential for others to follow), HR Workplace Services is re-distributing an HR Clinic that outlines important employer considerations should an immediate, natural disaster occur.

The Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is designed to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities by allowing them to take reasonable unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons. With the complexity of the administration of FMLA, now is…

While an employer is not allowed to fire an employee simply for exercising their right to take family and medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), there are situations where the employment of an employee that is out on FMLA leave may be ended. Below are…

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurers who plan on modifying plan premiums to submit their rates to either the state or federal government for review. This applies to plans included on state and federal healthcare insurance exchanges.

The Affordable Care Act's medical loss ratio (MLR) rules require group health insurance issuers to provide rebates if their MLR—the percentage of health insurance premiums spent on health care and activities to improve health care quality—falls short of…

From October 1, 2017-May 4, 2018, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted 2,282 Form I-9 audits, up from 1,360 audits from October 1, 2016-September 30, 2017. Given this dramatic increase, employers should take a moment to ensure that their Form I-9…

Group health plan administrators are reminded that Form 5500 must be filed with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) by the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends. For calendar-year plans, that due date falls on July 31.