In June, the Trump Administration issued new rules expanding the function of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) in an attempt to provide employers additional options for providing health coverage.  These rules, which will go into effect in January 2020, create two new ways to offer pre-tax dollars for purchasing health coverage: the Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA) and the Excepted Benefit HRA (EBHRA).

Employers are often considering ways to enhance their benefits packages and attract great employees. Some employers might increase their contributions towards the health plans or 401(k) matching contributions, but another option is to offer an opt-out payment for those employees waiving the company-sponsored health coverage. At Fall River we are asked about this option frequently, and we continue to evaluate the pros and cons as well as the rules of doing so.

Direct Primary Care (DPC), aka “concierge medicine,” is an alternative provider payment model gaining traction with employers who are tired of high health insurance rates and their employees not receiving the care they need. Instead of billing the insurance carrier for routine care, DPC providers usually charge a monthly flat fee which allows the member access to unlimited routine services such as laboratory services, same-day or next-day appointments, and sometimes even house calls. The savings generated by this model can certainly benefit companies, especially those that are self-funding their plans.

The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee is due July 31, 2019 for employers with any type of self-funded plan and/or a Health Reimbursement Arrangement. The fee helps fund unbiased research that evaluates the clinical effectiveness of medical treatments regardless of the profit potential. This fee is also known as the Comparative Effectiveness Research Fee, or CERF.

The IRS recently announced the changes to the contribution limits for High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in 2020. Also in this article, we’ve answered some of the most common questions we receive on HSAs. See if you know the answers before you read ours! 

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.