February 2011 | Volume 2, Number 2 |
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Senate Axes Expanded 1099 Reporting
"The U.S. Senate failed to fully repeal PPACA ... but succeeded in repealing Section 9006 of PPACA which, starting in 2012, would have expanded Form 1099 reporting to include payments of $600 or more to corporations providing services or goods."
Read the full article. |
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Federal Court Judge in Florida Strikes Down Health Law
The case, which surrounds the multi-state challenge to the health overhaul, represents the biggest legal challenge yet against the law's use of federal authority.
Kaiser Health News analysis: "The consensus is the Democratic appointed judges uphold the law and the Republican appointed judges strike it down - so far. We have two Clinton appointees upholding it ... and then we have two Republican appointees, Judge Vinson today, and Judge Henry Hudson of Richmond a few weeks ago saying it's unconstitutional. Now I don't claim that pattern is going to uphold all the way up to the Supreme Court and that the law's going to get struck down 5-4 because there are more Republicans. I actually would probably bet - not a lot - but bet on it being upheld in court." (1/31)
The Wall Street Journal: "In his ruling, ... Vinson, a Republican appointee, said that the law's requirement to carry insurance or pay a fee 'is outside Congress' Commerce Clause power, and it cannot be otherwise authorized by an assertion of power under the Necessary and Proper Clause. It is not constitutional.'" (1/31)
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| HR & Benefit Essentials has changed to HR360* |
More information regarding Health Care Reform and other benefit resources is available on the HR360 Web site, available to BSG clients under the "Resources" menu of their HR Express Web site. BSG subscribes to this service for your benefit. If you would like more information regarding this resource please contact your account management team at BSG.
*The HR & Benefit Essentials Web site has a new name and look. You can still access HR360 as instructed above. |
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Wisconsin Updates
Wisconsin Joining Federal Lawsuit?
Florida Judge Grants Van Hollen's Request to Join Health Care Suit
It's official. Federal Judge Hon. Roger Vinson, as expected, issued an order that grants the request of Wisconsin and five other states to join the legal challenge to the federal health care law that is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, Wyoming, and Maine have been added as plaintiffs to the suit, as well, which brings the total to 26.
"Judge Vinson's order makes it official: a majority of the states are now in court challenging the federal health care law. I've taken on this fight because it's the right thing to do and because the people of this state do not want Congress overstepping its bounds. I look forward to what I expect will be a favorable decision on the merits," said Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.
Read the full release.
The Wisconsin HSA Tax Law Change
Gov. Walker Signed Off on HSA Tax Cuts
The bill on health savings accounts (HSAs) will allow those with HSAs to deduct contributions from their state income taxes. It will apply to the 2011 tax year, for filings due in April 2012. The change will put Wisconsin in line with 46 other states and the federal government. In 2008, about 35,300 Wisconsin tax filers claimed the federal deduction for HSAs, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. That accounts for about 1.3% of tax filers.
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Wellness
Best Practices for Results-Oriented Wellness Programs: How Does Your Organization Rank?
The start of the New Year is a perfect time to reflect on what you can do to take your organization's wellness program to the next level. Comparing your program to best practices can be an easy process with some help from the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA). This organization provides a free interactive assessment tool to help you determine how your organization is doing with respect to developing a results-oriented worksite wellness program. Specifically, the Well Workplace Checklist is 100 questions in length and requires approximately 20 minutes to complete. Once completed, you'll receive an immediate Executive Summary detailing your scores in each benchmark. Shortly thereafter, you'll receive a comprehensive 38-page report via e-mail.
Complete the Well Workplace Checklist Today!
Log on today to see how your organization ranks against the Seven Benchmarks of Results-Oriented Wellness Programs. To date, more than one-thousand companies have used this free tool and received important feedback, which has allowed them to take their programs to the next level. In fact, many organizations will complete the Checklist twice a year to document and quantify the tangible improvements in their organization's overall wellness initiative. Moreover, many organizations have used the results of the Checklist to engage their company's senior level leadership in better understanding the status of the organization's wellness program. Don't miss this opportunity! To complete the Well Workplace Checklist at no charge, simply visit this link. |
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The preceding is not intended to be and is not offered as legal advice. We are prohibited from the practice of law. Compliance is the responsibility of the employer or Plan sponsor and affected employees who should seek their own legal counsel regarding questions about information presented in this newsletter.
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