There’s no question that great technology can propel an organization forward, and we’ve worked with many companies that are either looking to implement new HRIS software or change to a platform that better suits their business needs. The rewards of improving your technology are high, but the challenges can be numerous as well. How do you effectively vet, select, and implement the right system for your organization while minimizing the headaches? 

While the legislative session in early 2019 included proposals in civil rights, economic security, and educational programs, there was also a large focus on healthcare initiatives. Coloradans continue to express concern about the affordability and access to quality healthcare coverage, and the state legislators believe they are making important strides toward addressing these challenges. 

Over the past year, Fall River has seen an increase in a provider practice called “surprise medical billing” or “balance-billing.” Out-of-network providers will bill the patient even though they were seen at an in-network hospital and had no choice in who they were treated by. We have been anxiously awaiting legislation that would better-protect patients, and in early May Colorado lawmakers passed the Out-of-network Healthcare Services bill to address this issue.

Guest Article by Michele J. Wagner, SHRM-SCP

The Colorado Legislature adjourned its 72nd session May 3, 2019, passing numerous bills affecting Colorado employers and employees. As of this writing, these bills were passed by the Legislature and sent to Governor Polis for signature. Below is a summary of the bills affecting employment and wage practices, including what you need to know and do (or don’t do) as an Employer.

Is your organization looking to implement a workplace wellness program? Has your company's wellness program faded or become stale? If so, now is the perfect time to design, reclaim and refresh your wellness program. As a part of our continued webinar series, we’ll be focusing on the challenges of implementing and sustaining powerful wellness programs.

Among the multitude of healthcare bills Colorado’s legislators have been debating this session is HB19-1168, the State Innovation Waiver Reinsurance Program. The proposal would authorize Colorado to request federal approval to implement a state-run reinsurance program aimed at reducing individual premium costs in the healthcare marketplace.

Beginning in 2020, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will be required to report annual uncompensated costs and expenditure by using data submitted by hospitals. Governor Jared Polis signed the law as part of the bigger goal to reduce health care costs.

Medicare for All is a universal health care model (also known as single-payer plan) which has been developed and promoted in the past few years by Senator Bernie Sanders. This latest version is even broader, with the intent being to help more Americans access health care, especially those that are not in a traditional employment environment.

As most employers know, employees who have a traditional copay-style plan can be eligible for a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plan to cover medical expenses pre-tax. But, If the employer instead offers a High-Deductible Health Plan or HDHP, employees can contribute into a Health Savings Account (HSA) on a pre-tax basis.

But what happens when the employer offers both a copay-style plan and an HDHP?

The health insurance broker community is not always portrayed in the best light in the media, sometimes with stories of hidden fees and behind-the-scenes bonuses due to the abuses of a few bad actors. Fall River Employee Benefits operates on a higher level, and always with honesty and our clients’ best interests in mind.