October 09, 2023
Get Ready: New Gag Clause Attestation Deadline Approaches
It’s time for group health plan sponsors to add another reminder to their calendars before the year’s end, as nearly all plan sponsors (that’s you, employers!) are responsible for a ...
July 06, 2023
Utilize a Captive for Better and More Cost Effective Employee Benefits
The Medical Stop-Loss Solution Catastrophic medical claims continue to grow in size and number. What was a $1 million claim a few years ago is likely $3 million+ in today’s marketplace....
July 05, 2023
Focus on Providing Care, Not Paying for It with Life-Long Term Care Hybrid
States Move to Fill Care-Coverage Gap as New Policies Offer Solutions Recognizing that caring for a spouse or family member with a debilitating illness or injury can be costly, nearly 20 stat...
June 05, 2023
IRS Reminder: Without Proper FSA Substantiation, All (Tax-Favored) Bets Are Off
On April 28, 2023, the IRS Office of Chief Counsel issued Memorandum Number 202317020, which serves as “Chief Counsel Advice” concerning the requirement for health and dependent care flexi...
May 18, 2023
IRS Announces Spike in HSA Figures for 2024
On Tuesday, May 16th, the IRS announced the inflation adjustments that will apply to health savings accounts (HSAs) and qualified high deductible health plans (HDHPs) beginning January 1, 2024. Due in...
May 16, 2023
Coverage of Preventive Health Services After the Braidwood Decision
Background In 2020, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) amended the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to require non-grandfathered group health plans and insurers of fully-insured group health plans to cove...
March 29, 2023
How to Leverage Group Purchasing Power to Drive Down Benefits Costs
We at Graham are leveraging the power of economies of scale and group purchasing of like-minded Healthcare and Human Services (HHS) organizations with the goal of impacting your people and your bottom...
March 27, 2023
3 Voluntary Benefits Trends to Watch in 2023
Benefits have always been crucial for attracting and retaining top performers, and voluntary benefits are a great way for employers to round off their offerings. These extra perks allow for more perso...
March 24, 2023
DOL Issues Adjusted Penalty Amounts for 2023
Federal regulations require the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to make inflationary adjustments to its civil monetary penalties by Jan. 15 of each year. Accordingly, on Jan. 15, 2023 the DOL issued th...
March 24, 2023
Here Comes the Great Post-Pandemic Medicaid Unwind
At the start of the pandemic in Jan. 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency (PHE), which granted each U.S. State’s Medicaid program broad...
March 24, 2023
The End of the COVID-19 Emergency Declarations is Near
On Jan. 30, 2023, the Biden Administration announced its intention to end the National Emergency and Public Health Emergency (PHE) due to COVID-19 as of May 11, 2023. These dual emergency declarations...
January 05, 2023
2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, including Telemedicine & HSA Relief, Signed into Law
The 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA 2023), which was signed into law by President Biden on December 29, 2022, includes language extending the temporary safe harbor relief that makes first-do...
July 08, 2022
Frequently Asked Questions re: Impact of Dobbs on Employer-Sponsored Health Plans
On Friday June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States released its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overruling the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade, wh...
April 05, 2022
5 HR Technology Trends to Monitor in 2022
No matter a company’s size, its day-to-day needs can feel overwhelming for human resources (HR) leaders, especially when faced with new coronavirus-related responsibilities or evolving role duti...
April 04, 2022
How to Combat "The Great Resignation" by Building Customized Benefits Packages to Attract & Retain Top Talent
As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic carry into their third year, many companies are taking a step back to assess their business practices to determine what has or has not worked during this challe...